Lyric It s My Job

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