Optional Contracts Reading

The Promised Hand
(with apologies to Bruce Springsteen)

Well, I had a little accident when I was just a lad
I burned my hand, and listen, man, it hurt real bad
A couple years later, I met Doctor McGee
He saw my thumb and he said son, I guarantee
If you just give me a chance, I'll make it good as new
I'll make your hand perfect, yes I swear it's true
I've done it many times before, I know just what to do -

McGee, he's gonna howl
He don't understand
But the judge found it simple, so he put it on remand
He said, "Son, you'll get the damages that you demand
'cause you believed in the promised hand."

He told me that my hand would be one hundred percent
I thought because he said it, that was just what he meant
Now I will never recover, my whole life is a wreck
When I think of that day it makes me mad as heck
He said your hand's okay, but you deserve the best
He took a knife and then he cut this skin from my chest
Now my fingers are itching and I can't get no rest...

McGee, he's gonna howl
He don't understand
But the judge found it simple, so he put it on remand
He said, "Son, you'll get the damages that you demand
'cause you believed in the promised hand."

The jury monetized the difference, it was quite a lot
Between the hand that I expected and the one I got;
And I've come to find out that I'm a famous case
Prominently featured in The Paper Chase -
But what is all of it worth, when I can't sleep at night?
My hand is matted and unsightly and it looks a fright
If I could take it all back, I really think that I might...

But every graduate of law school
All across this land
They may forget my name but they recall my hand
I'm as famous as that guy who killed the fox and ran...
'cause I believed in the promised hand
'cause I believed in the promised hand
Yeah I believed in the promised hand.