Pattern Holder

And the plane is packed with every drop of fuel it wants
It won't land 'til its used up every one that it's got
You can let me off any old time that you like
But if the flight plan says we stay airborne it's fine

I don't wanna break the tension
But I'm gonna miss my connection
The longer I stay on board
I'm staying stuck to my station
Waiting for my chances for disembarkation
Before I forget what I'm flying for

It's ok, I'm moving up the plane row by row
Maybe business class is a cromulent plateau
The captain speaks, we can hold this pattern long as we like
I bought the ticket, remind me how long is the ride?

I don't wanna break the tension
But I'm gonna miss my connection
The longer I stay on board
I'm staying stuck to my station
Waiting for my chances for disembarkation
Before I forget what I'm flying for

You meet all kinds with the seatbelt signs off
If we ever land, we've got our plans drawn
We got some time, well, a lot of it
To fight off all the endings forgone
And the service is second to none
Enough libation to keep you on one
But the buzz wears off and you realize
You've been on this plane too long

Well, we landed but we're taxiing indefinitely
The captain's voice intones on the PA wearily
And I remembered when I've been back here before
Pulled the handle on the emergency exit door

And I hit the tarmac with both feet
Saw the sky so wide as I could see
And on that flight plan I can pull the curtain
And I swore it'd never happen again
A pattern holder in my life, ever, amen
As I board another flight uncertain