By: Mac McAnally
1970
For Mac who reminds me of me seven years ago
In the middle of late last night I was sittin` on a curb
I didn`t know what about, but I was feelin` quite disturbed
A street sweeper came whistlin` by, he was bouncin` every step
It seemed strange how good he felt, so I asked him while he swept
Chorus:
He said, "It`s my job to be cleaning up this mess
And that`s enough reason to go for me
It`s my job to be better than the rest
And that makes a day for me."
I got an uncle who owns a bank, he`s a self-made millionaire
He never had anyone to love, never had no one to care
He always seemed kinda sad to me and I asked him why that was
And he told me it`s because in my contract there`s this clause
Chorus:
That says, "It`s my job to be worried half to death
And that`s the thing people respect in me
It`s my job but without it I`d be less
Than what I expect from me."
Now I`ve been lazy most all my life writin` songs and sleepin` late
And any manual labor I`ve done was purely by mistake
If street sweepers can smile then I`ve got no right to feel upset
But sometimes I still forget
`Til the lights go on and the stage is set
And the song hits home and you feel that sweat
Chorus:
It`s my job to be different than the rest
And that`s enough reason to go for me
It`s my job to be better than the rest
And that`s a rough break for me
Chorus:
It`s my job to be cleaning up this mess
And that`s enough reason to go for me
It`s my job to be better than the rest
And that makes the day for me
- Notes:
Background Vocals: Mac McAnally, J.D. Souther