[INTRO — low piano, upright bass, faint brush on snare] Wash 'em well, Jack. They'll be watching. [VERSE 1] Morning put its Sunday face On every windowpane Men who wouldn't speak your name Came walking through the rain One brought rope and one brought law One brought God along Everybody found a place To say they don't belong [PRE-CHORUS] Button up your collar Keep your good coat clean A crowd loves righteous business If somebody works the machine [CHORUS] Jack Ketch, wash your hands When the deed is done Collect the wages you have earned And leave before they run Walk with the honor Of duty no man won Jack Ketch, wash your hands When the deed is done [VERSE 2] Soap beneath the fingernails Rope dust on the floor Coins laid down beside your cup Your hat behind the door The judge has gone to supper The preacher's gone to bed The crowd has found another thing To talk about instead But you— You carry home the quiet They left you with the dead [CHORUS] Jack Ketch, wash your hands When the deed is done Collect the wages you have earned Don't ask what you become Walk with the honor Of duty no man won Jack Ketch, wash your hands When the deed is done [BRIDGE — piano and xylophone, nearly spoken] Funny thing about clean hands— Everybody wants them. The man who gives the order The man who rings the bell The ones who buy a window seat To watch a stranger fall All go home with clean hands. Don't they, Jack? [INSTRUMENTAL — bowed guitar, bass, three xylophone notes] [VERSE 3] Water blackens in the bowl Then clears around your skin You scrub until there's nothing there And wash again. [FINAL CHORUS — restrained, no gang vocals] Jack Ketch, wash your hands The working day is done Collect the wages you have earned And walk when others run No medal for the burden No pardon when it's done Just the crooked honor Of duty no man won Jack Ketch, wash your hands. [OUTRO — piano] Wash 'em well. Tomorrow they'll need clean hands again.
