It's My Job - Live

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

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

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

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

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