itemize the things you covet
as you squander through your life
bigger cars bigger houses
term insurance for your wife
tuesday evenings with your harlot
and on wednesdays it’s your charlatan analyst
he’s high upon your list
you’ve got air conditioned sinuses
and dark disturbing doubts about religion
and you keep those cards and letters going out
while your secretary’s tempting you
your morals are exempting you from guilt and shame
heaven knows you’re not to blame
you better take care of business mr businessman
what’s your plan
get down to business mr businessman
if you can
before it’s too late and you throw your life away
did you see your children growing up today
and did you hear the music of their laughter
as they set about to play
did you catch the fragrance of those roses in your garden
did the morning sunlight warm your soul
brighten up your day
do you qualify to be alive
or is the limit of your senses so as only to survive
spending counterfeit incentive
wasting precious time and health
placing value on the worthless
disregarding priceless wealth
you can wheel and deal the best of them
steal it from the rest of them
you know the score their ethics are a bore
eightysix proof anesthetic crutches
prop you to the top
where the smiles are all synthetic
and the ulcers never stop
when they take that final inventory
yours will be the same sad story everywhere
no one will really care no one more lonely than
this rich important man
let’s have your autograph endorse your epitaph
you better take care of business mr businessman
what’s your plan
get down to business mr businessman
if you can
hey yeah hey hey hey yeah yeah
Artist: Ray Stevens
Year: 1968
Decade: 60s
Language: en
Word Count: 153