Get all 7 Men With Day Jobs releases available on Bandcamp and save 50%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Baggage and Stuff, Selfies, Wiped Out Again !, Deep In Denial, 4 Characters, Dreams And Tinsel, and Men With Day Jobs.
1. |
Mobile Rambler
03:10
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I’m goin’ out on the town tonight - all around, spectacular city sights But it won’t be in my view - cause I’ll be busy texting you
I’m a mobile rambler, my eyes cast down to my little screen I’m a mobile rambler - you wouldn’t believe what I haven’t seen
I’m headin’ out to the countryside - mountains and rivers spreadin’ far and wide But I won’t take in that crap - my eyes glued to my latest app
I’m a mobile rambler…
Look out for that stroller, watch out for that car Mind out for that wheelchair - AAARGH! Look out!
I’m gonna travel the world one day - from the streets of Rome to Acapulco Bay The Amazon and Angkor Wat - I’ll only see them in my selfie shot
I’m a mobile rambler…I have to see it to believe it
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2. |
Here Today
03:10
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Here today, and gone tomorrow - wasting time, Waiting for Godot The cold years and the hot tears have come and gone
Here today, and gone tomorrow - no more time for us to borrow The dark days and the old ways are movin’ on
Life is a sentence, each word is a year And no one line can ever define the reasons why we’re here
In the Here and Now, it’s now or never - from now on, let’s do it clever The old fears and the mean years have gotta go
Life is a river, the ocean is near There’s no more time for us to divine the reasons why we’re here
In the Here and Now, it’s now or never…
The dark days and the old ways are movin’ on !
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3. |
January 26
02:34
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“Why are only the brown people dancing?” - came a small strident voice on the hill On a day long decreed for our cheering Here we sit, pale and pensive and still
Where to start, to unfold that long story? What to say of the blood and the tears? Centuries wading deep in denial Of the fact of fifty thousand years
Long we have laboured to bury our darkness Our flags and our fireworks hung heavy in the air But deep down inside us, an ache of recognition A cry from the heart of a conscience in despair
So let’s just say we are waiting to join them Once we’ve squared all our baggage away Only then can we dance with those beautiful brown people Side by side, side by side Side by side we will dance on the hill - one bright day
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4. |
Armed to the Teeth
02:52
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I came here unsuspecting – but I should have known That they’d be waiting by the door There’s no way out of here – I’m on my own Like I have never been before
Armed to the teeth I’m waiting, outnumbered one to four Stripped to the waist to face them And the crowd is screaming out for more
I came here unprotected – much to defend Roll up for tickets to the fight Is this the final curtain – is this the end? Could this be my last show tonight?
Armed to the teeth I’m waiting, behind the deadly door Dressed to the nines to face them And the crowd is screaming out for more
I came here unsuspecting – fool that I was They set the trap and I fell in No help, no cavalry – I’m on my own So much to lose, so much to win
Armed to the teeth I’m waiting, outnumbered one to four Back to the wall to face them…
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5. |
Home
04:40
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We pulled up roots, rolled into the city Flying fast from past and pain Looking for a new start, for the kid and me A little shelter from the rain
Found some work, not great pay – still, a start Someone to share the care, in shifts apart Only need space to live, enough to eat Somewhere to feel safe, not some junkie street
Another storey… on the casino Another storey… on the office tower Another knockback – “Sorry, no longer available” And the fat rats flashing their fangs of gold As people like us are bought and sold
All I want is a roof over our heads To stay in our own space, sleep in our own beds All I want is a place we can call our own All I want is Home
One toehold to another, further and further from town Each time, rent jacked up, or the place pulled down Never daring to raise rights, things fixed or filled in Feel seen as the young or the single, or by the colour of skin
Another storey… on the casino Another storey… on the office tower Another kick-out - no cause, no reason And the fat rats flashing their fangs of gold As people like us are bought and sold
All I want… is a roof over our heads… There’s gotta be something… has to be something… There’s gotta be somewhere… called Home
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6. |
The Hand of the King
03:40
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It was a rainy night in Memphis, a long and lonely wait For the roadie from Down Under, waiting by the Graceland gate Till shortly after midnight, the limo pulled out of the lane The window slid down and the voice in the back asked him for his name
“Harry,” he said… “well, you can call me Hank” He signed his book and he smiled Reached out with a friendly grasp And made the whole mad mission worthwhile
Shake the hand of the man that shook the hand of Elvis Come on and shake the hand… that shook the hand of the King He never played in a band, or sang in a spotlight But one rainy night in the Memphis moonlight The man shook the hand of a man who could really sing
It’s a long way from the wide brown land To the land where the buffalo roam For a road-worn man with a crazy plan A pilgrim to a legend’s home
Now Harry’s on his last legs - for Hank, as he’s known since then There’s no more bins and boxes to carry for the music men
He smiles with satisfaction, as he leans back in his chair The kids step up to meet the man They all know he was there - he was there!
Shake the hand of the man that shook the hand of Elvis…
Come on and shake the hand… that shook the hand of the King
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7. |
As You Do
02:58
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Woke up this morning, feeling blue - as you do Stumbled down to the kitchen, for a good strong brew - as you do Pulled on some clothes, and dragged myself off to the human zoo But since you deleted me, I deleted everything - as you do
Went for a walk, and good long drive, drowned my sorrows at the local dive Had a beer, a scotch, a Bloody Mary too - or maybe a few (as you do)
Went back home, mixed a cocktail of drugs - for the buzz, as one does Just can’t get perspective on what’s true - as you do But when I see you walk by with some other guy I do more than just break down and cry I become quite homicidal - as you do
That’s why I’m lurking in your garden , on the leafy avenue Then as quiet as a mouse, I set fire to your house - as you do ‘Cause now that you’ve gone, I can’t seem to move on…. as YOU do
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8. |
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The party is in motion, the invited guests rock in The boutique venue pumping, the DJ starts to spin I make my last adjustments to a look both cool and hot
I’m ready for my entrance, I have practised this a lot
Just one more thing before I hit the bar: I’ll put my ukulele in the car !
Coo-ee, whoopee, aloha, fa-la-lah - I’ll put my ukulele in the car
The wedding preparations have been made with special care The theme is late Edwardian: grand frocks, bejewelled hair I’ve dressed for the occasion, with careful practised eye I don my brocade waistcoat, do up my gold silk tie But the final touch (according to research): I’ll bring my ukulele to the church !
From wedding march to daggy dopey lurch I’ll bring my ukulele to the church
Here gathered at the funeral, in sombre mood we wait In dark subdued attire at the Late Lamented’s gate The cortege standing ready to proceed at stately pace To impart the Dear Departed to the final resting place In tones of thoughtful wisdom I converse - while I chuck my ukulele in the hearse!
From sad to mad to bad and even worse, I’ll chuck my ukulele in the hearse
Whatever the occasion, whatever the event The icing on the cake is those four strings insanely bent You can be sure the thing will turn out right If you bring your ukulele on the night (Yee-hah!) Just bring your ukulele on the night (Fa-la-lah!) Just bring your ukulele (I’ll be strumming gaily) Bring your ukulele on the night!
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9. |
Temple River
04:48
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He feels the chill of metal, cold against his skin He stops dead still, heart frozen, his heel upon the pin One step from forever, a moment locked in time He waits in trust for life or dust, to write the next line
And the Temple River rushes down to feed the farms below and from the deepest crater does the strongest bamboo grow…
He grows among the killing fields, waist-deep in the mire From childhood torn asunder, to refuge from the fire Returning to a fresh hope, learnings old and new, family reunited in search for something true
And the Temple River rushes down…
He leads through ancient visions, dreamed by god-kings past of temples wreathed in waterfalls, and stairways heaven-cast He smiles their well-worn stories, he kneels to kiss the stone He strolls among the karma, the writing now his own
And the Temple River rushes down….
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10. |
The War
02:44
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What did you do in the war, Dad? What did you do in the war?
I served as an officer, roping them in A judge or a lawyer, to punish their sin A politician or newsman, spinning our spin Of toughness and order and law - ‘cause that’s what you do in a war
How did you fight in the war, Dad? How did you fight in the war?
We made lots of noise, beat our breasts at each play We blustered and bullied and yelled “make my day!” And when they sought help, we turned them away We locked and we bolted the door - ‘cause that’s what you do in a war
How did you win the war, Dad? How did you win the War?
Well here lies the problem I can’t get across Our fighting words drowned in the silence of loss Now I stand in this graveyard, counting the cost Of our great Zero Tolerance War…
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11. |
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Someone I used to work with, called to say hello A coffee and a catch-up, an exchange of how things go We went on to talk of trifles, of small things rearranged But something dark was touched on, a reflection slowly changed
And water flowing under bridges to something buried in the snow, so long ago
Someone I used to work with, spoke without a sense Of ancient graves uncovered from the safety of the fence A motive and an action fell sadly into place A smirk of satisfaction on someone’s other face
And water flowing under bridges To where I didn’t choose to go… (It was) so long ago
And water flows on under bridges - and what we thought we used to know A long long time ago, tumbles in the flow Buried in the snow, a long long time ago…
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12. |
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Let’s begin with just surviving being born, and early days as fragile infant Then I’ll set about the task of growing healthy in body and in mind Pleasing parents, siblings, teachers - jumping through their hoops Dodging bullies’ beatings, balance food and friendship groups While building strength of character, restraint and independence all the time
What could possibly go wrong? What could possibly go wrong? Just have to be brave and bold and kind and caring, Smart and sexy, flexible and strong - what could possibly go wrong?
And then I’ll tackle teenage traumas, trapped in pimples, puberty and passion Intense self-conscious scans of faults in how my brain and body have been built Reconcile conflicting loyalties ‘twixt family, dates and buddies Domestic rows on rights and wrongs, while struggling with my studies Then sit high-stress exams while grappling gamely with love and sex and guilt
What could possibly go wrong? …
So now to face the new world of negotiating life as an adult Seek and keep employment, balance that with friends and leisure, exercise each day Pay my taxes, vote, participate, and make my values known Find well-suited partner and build family of our own And pass my knowledge smoothly to the kids, to help them make their way
Hey, what could possibly go wrong?...
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13. |
I'll Ride With You
03:26
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In the wake of a mad bad situation In the shell-shocked shadow of worlds apart Somebody trying to start a conflagration Somebody trying to inflame an outraged heart
All at once there’s a simple message, smiling words through the cyberspace Life-raft in a swirling ocean - put the hate creators in their place
I’ll ride with you, I’ll ride with you I don’t know where we’re going but I know we’ll make it through I’ll ride with you…
We don’t need insane knee-jerk pronouncements We will sing and shout and post and tweet There’ll be no angry words, no rattling sabres When we take our movement to the street
We all come from a different station, never certain to find our way But no matter what the destination, we’re in the boat together, so they say
I’ll ride with you, I’ll ride with you… I don’t care what’s your name or nation Your religion or point of view…
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14. |
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I aimed to make a difference, meant to leave my mark To build a blazing fire, or at least a tiny spark I tried to set my stamp on things, put my name in lights Lift the bar and set the world to rights
I took No for a challenge, I bent and broke the rules Shook things till they rattled, refused to suffer fools Built my minor monuments, boldly forged ahead Self-congratulation in full flight
But will the stars regret me when I’m gone? Can the universe forget me and move on? Barely ruffled by the beating of my tiny insect wings A wrinkle in the fabric of the sprawling scheme of things Will my story soon be swallowed in the membranes and the strings Or will some tiny hiccup linger on And all the stars regret me when I’m gone
So now I near my journey’s end, time to clear my mind Look back on the legacy I leave to humankind I trumpet my achievements, raise my record high Here I stand, a legend in my time
But will the stars regret me when I’m gone? Can the multiverse forget me and move on?
A small unsightly blemish on the mighty cosmic face An instant of disruption in expanding time and space Will the endless oscillations settle smoothly back in place Or will some edgy echo linger on And all the stars regret me when I’m gone
I hear the future calling, I feel my destiny To make my final statement, my lasting legacy
But will the stars regret me when I’m gone?... The merest minor moment of firmamental foment Just a flicker of what failed to quite belong And all the stars regret me when I’m gone
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15. |
The War (Remix)
02:48
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