He Thinks He'll Keep Her Lyrics

She makes his coffee, she makes his bed
She does the laundry, she keeps him fed
When she was twenty-one she wore her mother's lace
She said "forever" with a smile upon her face
She does the car-pool, she PTAs
Doctors and dentists, she drives all day
When she was twenty-nine she delivered number three
And every Christmas card showed a perfect family
Everything runs right on time, years of practice and design
Spit and polish till it shines. He thinks he'll keep her
Everything is so benign, safest place you'll ever find
God forbid you change your mind. He thinks he'll keep her
She packs his suitcase, she sits and waits
With no expression upon her face
When she was thirty-six she met him at their door
She said I'm sorry, I don't love you anymore
Everything runs right on time, years of practice and design
Spit and polish till it shines. He thinks he'll keep her
Everything is so benign, safest place you'll ever find
God forbid you change your mind. He thinks he'll keep her
For fifteen years she had a job and not one raise in pay
Now she's in the typing pool at minimum wage
Everything runs right on time, years of practice and design
Spit and polish till it shines. He thinks he'll keep her
Everything is so benign, safest place you'll ever find
At least until you change your mind. He thinks he'll keep her
Song Info
Submitted by
cryn_out On Sep 23, 2004
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Cover art for He Thinks He'll Keep Her lyrics by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Terribly sad. All about believing your life would work out one way and being wrong.

Cover art for He Thinks He'll Keep Her lyrics by Mary Chapin Carpenter

This is my favorite MCC song, and I don't find it sad at all! I find it humorous. Seriously, look at women in our life. They all do this: they all forget themselves for other people. It's incredibly ridiculous and of course I fear that time when I'll probably do the same. however, she leaves him at the end and by doing so, gains her independence, even though she makes no money really. She is still happy, much happier than before, and in a sense, 'sticks it to the man'.

Cover art for He Thinks He'll Keep Her lyrics by Mary Chapin Carpenter

How can this song be taken as sad? I mean, yes I can see that the family will be sad, but this is supposed to be interpreted from her point of view, the suppressed housewife. She finally had enough and left. It is inspiring to me.

Cover art for He Thinks He'll Keep Her lyrics by Mary Chapin Carpenter

I love this song! It's really quite sad, but so true for many!

Cover art for He Thinks He'll Keep Her lyrics by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Frivorcing bitch.