[Intro: bright keyboard motif; drum pickup] [Verse: first job; easy conversational delivery] I started at the printers In shoes that gave me blisters Jean saw me spoil a hundred And said, “I've done six hundred” She made the foreman wait there While I got the paper straightened Then sent me for the wages With ink on both my laces [Verse: belonging; guitar answers between phrases] We'd finish with the sunrise And squint through tired eyes Jean saved a seat beside her I'd squeeze between the drivers I'd tell her who was courting She'd ask what I was sporting “That shirt deserves a warning” Same joke most every morning [Verse: promotion; firmer vocal attack] They called me up on Thursday And asked about my birthday Then asked if I'd be willing To take over from Billy Jean said, “Go on, you earned it” I signed before I'd heard it The bit about the changes The hours and the wages [Verse: pressure; harmony darkens] The orders dropped that summer I had to lose a number They gave me names to choose from And figures I could use for them Jean had the longest service Her pay made me look nervous I put her in a column And let the office call her [Verse: consequence; restrained lead] She came to get her jacket Her last pay in a packet I said, “It's not my choosing” She asked who I'd be losing I told her what they'd told me She stood there looking through me Then left before the buzzer I'd never seen her hurry [Verse: apparent success; full band returns] By March we'd hit the target They asked me how I'd managed I got a better parking space A photograph beside my face The lads still took the same bus I asked who'd won at football They said the bus was almost full And turned back to the timetable [Verse: reckoning; close vocal, keyboard answers] Last Friday at their local I tried to sound more cheerful I told the joke about my shirt They carried on about their work I stayed until the last bus And watched them climb aboard it I had the car park to myself And used to have good company [End]
