Salesman, where you gonna go?
To sell all your of your goods today
Salesman, gonna walk along the street, see friends along the way
Well salesman, with your wooden cart that you push along while you walk
Hey, salesman, got a little dog whose tail wags when you talk
You always wear a smile, even though you've gotta walk ten miles
Short lifespan, good time salesman
Yep, yep salesman got it on the street, whether it's hot or cold
It's salesman, well, you work real hard,
Until every part is sold
Salesman as the years go by,
People changing every day
Hey, salesman 'till the end of time you'll be livin' in the same way
You always wear a smile, you love 'em fast and you live wild
Short life span, but ain't life grand?

Copper kettles, different kinds of tin
There goes salesman and he's sailing high again
He's sailing so high, high, sailing so high

Salesman where you gonna go to sell all of your goods today
Yup, salesman, gonna walk along the street, see friends along the way
Hey, salesman, with your wooden cart that you push along while you walk
Hey, salesman with your secret goods that you push while you talk
You always wear a smile,
Even though you've gotta walk a hundred ten miles
Short life span but the whole thing's grand
Salesman

Now, well, I tried the one that you put it in and you have to do it
Manually. But I'd like the one that you just plug it in and it does it all
By itself in a real long strand and you cut 'em up. It's easier to do it
That way because, well, I put all the stuff in there and it keeps flippin'
Out. And I can't get the thing to stick together anything. Coupled with
The fact that I have to stick two of them together to even get on out of it
And they always end up lookin' like Lucky Strikes.


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings

Salesman Lyrics as written by Craig Smith

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Salesman song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    I read someone's opinion that this song is about a drug dealer - "secret goods that you push while you talk." I can see that. On the other hand, I've been reading a lot about Huey P. Long lately, and on hearing this song afterward, I started to think it could also be referencing politicians. What is a politician but a salesman, anyway?

    aventurineon April 01, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It could be a hidden message about drug dealers and other unwanted things. Or it could be straightforward. The 1960s weren't exactly subtle, when the fab four's peers were using profanity in songs (e.g. Jefferson Airplane using the MF word in "Volunteers"...)

    gemini27on June 13, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The spoken lyrics at the end make me think Mike was having trouble using a manual "cigarette" rolling machine so he wanted to buy an automatic one. lol

    GolanTreviseon October 20, 2017   Link

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