I’m a Yakovlev fighter - My engine, it screams,
My home’s wherever it’s higher;
But he who’s sitting here inside me
Is thinking that he is the fighter.

A Junkers I zapped on my last sortie -
I treated him like a toy;
But he who’s sitting here inside me
Has really got me annoyed.

The flight mechanic had rectified me -
In my last fight I was shot through;
But he who’s sitting here inside me
Again spins me like a corkscrew.

To airfields and aerodromes the bombers bring
Death with their shelling;
But I feel the stabiliser still sings:
"Peace be in your dwelling."

A Messerschmitt’s coming up close behind me;
I’ll be hurt - now it’s time for flight;
But he who’s sitting here inside me,
Is desperate for a dogfight!

What is he doing? We’re going to explode...
On the sand though I will not burn!
With my systems and gears in overload
From a dive I manage a turn.

I’m leading, but where now the plane following
Has gone, burn me, there’s no telling;
He burst into smoke, bowed and started to sing:
"Peace be in your dwelling!"

And he who’s sitting here inside my skull
Is left alone in the soup;
He only confused me by making me plunge
Straight after looping the loop.

He tugs on the wheel and the load then doubles;
He’s an ace, this pilot of mine!
I have to obey again for my trouble -
But this is the very last time!

I swear, I’ll no more do his will, bow and scrape;
I’d rather lie on the ground!
But doesn’t he hear how my pulse starts to race -
My petrol-blood has run out.

An aeroplane’s patience can be sorely tried
And his time’s already been;
But he who was sitting right here inside
Slumped head-first against my windscreen.

He’s dead! At last with no burden I fly;
I’ll burn the last of my force.
But what’s this? I enter a free-falling dive
And there’s no way I can change course!

How sad that my freedom so little should bring;
Let another one try excelling.
So in the end it was my turn to sing:
"Peace be in your dwelling."