Lyrics What Can You Do With A General? - Bing Crosby

When the war was over, there were jobs galore
For the G.I. Josephs who were in the war
But for generals things were not so grand
And it isn′t hard to understand

What can you do with a general
When he stops being a general?
Oh, what can you do with a general who retires?

Who's got a job for a general
When he stops being a general?
They all get a job, but a general no one hires

He walks into an office, in answer to an ad
He′ll take the job that's offered, the pay is not too bad
They ask his last position, and he answers with a punch
"I was a General"
And they ask him out to lunch
And he has to meet the mag
But he doesn't get the job

Nobody thinks of assigning him
When they stop wining and dining him
It seems this country never has enjoyed
So many one and two and three and four star generals, unemployed

They fill his chest with medals while he′s across the foam
And they spread the crimson carpet when he comes marching home
The next day someone hollers when he comes into view
"Here comes the general" and they all say "General who?"
They′re delighted that he came
But they can't recall his name

Somehow he′s not understood enough
They think no job could be good enough
That's why this country never has enjoyed
So many one and two and three and four star generals, unemployed