Mixed by Chris O’Brien and Graham Murphy at The Production Suite.
Mastered by Richard Dowling at Wav Mastering.
I’m awoken in the dark
By someone who likes an early start.
She wants to play, and I know I should join her
But all I can do it sit, dazed, on the floor.
I’m still there when her sister arrives
And I’m suddenly too late to get to work on time
So it’s out the door shouting “Bye!” to my wife
Who’s in bed
Having been awake half the night.
Stephen! John! This isn’t good.
Things haven’t turned out the way I hoped they would.
I never get to see my wife nked anymore.
We’re just partners in chores.
Try not to think about it.
It’s nice of you to offer sympathy
When I’m feeling sorry for myself –
But frankly I was hoping for advice
That might be a bit more practical.
Outside my job I sit in my van
Delaying entry for as long as I can.
Later you’ll find me frozen at my desk
Deciding what emergency to deal with next.
In a panic I blunder on. Oh!
Making mistakes I’ll have to fix tomorrow.
I never meant this to be a career,
But now it looks like I’m stuck here
Til pension day. My life slips past
As I try to cross items off a vast
To-do list that never seems to get any smaller
Just taller
Try not to think about it
It’s nice of you to offer sympathy
When I’m feeling sorry for myself –
But frankly I was hoping for advice
That might be a bit more practical.
At home in the evening I try to defend
My re-heated dinner from my offspring. And then
There’s games to be played, stories to be read,
Tantrums and escape attempts on the way to bed.
Callbacks for lullabies, blankets and drinks,
And meanwhile the dishes are still in the sink.
Then when the washing-up’s done, and the laundry’s put away
I can do as I please for the rest of the day …
Just as soon as the dishwasher’s mended,
Which takes longer than I intended
So when finally into bed beside my wife I creep
She is asleep.
Try not to think about it
It’s nice of you to offer sympathy
When I’m feeling sorry for myself –
But frankly I was hoping for advice
That might be a bit more practical.