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A Mission in Life Lyrics
Sue, turn out the lights
It's time to close up––we're through
Gotta clear it out
So let's drink up, it's past two
Girl, don't push 'em out
They can walk out on their own
How many times I gotta tell you, Bob,
You gotta drink up and go home
I don't run a business
Just to talk to you all day
Clear out the backroom, Sue
Stack up the chairs
Who broke this glass?
No one really cares
Go take the trash out
And vacuum the stairs
What do I
Pay you for?
And don't forget to sweep
The glass off the floor
Once I had plans
To fix up this place
A room where you could go to
And meet people with taste
They'd talk and they'd laugh
And forget the rat race
And I'd be just like one of those guys
With the mustache and face
Hey, help me lift up this case
Hey, I'm really sorry I blew up then
I've had no sleep
I've been up all night with my wife and brother-in-law
You know, Pete
At times, this world can seem
Just like a cold icy ball
But don't let that discourage you
'Cause you're young––take that call
And if it's my wife
Just try and stall
I was just wondering
How you get home
Do you have a boyfriend?
Or do you live alone?
I'm going your way
If you're going mine
No, I feel fine
But before you go
Let me just pass on one thing
You've got a mission in life
To hold out your hand
To help the other guy out
Help your fellow man
That's why I own this bar
They're thirsty outside
I give 'em oceans to drink
Then they drown in the tide
You've got a mission in life
To hold out your hand
To help the other guy out
Help your fellow man
That's why I own this bar
They're thirsty outside
I give 'em oceans to drink
Then they drown in the tide
They just drown in the tide
They just drown in the tide
They just drown in the tide
They just drown in the tide
It's time to close up––we're through
Gotta clear it out
So let's drink up, it's past two
Girl, don't push 'em out
They can walk out on their own
How many times I gotta tell you, Bob,
You gotta drink up and go home
I don't run a business
Just to talk to you all day
Stack up the chairs
Who broke this glass?
No one really cares
Go take the trash out
And vacuum the stairs
What do I
Pay you for?
And don't forget to sweep
The glass off the floor
To fix up this place
A room where you could go to
And meet people with taste
They'd talk and they'd laugh
And forget the rat race
And I'd be just like one of those guys
With the mustache and face
Hey, help me lift up this case
I've had no sleep
I've been up all night with my wife and brother-in-law
You know, Pete
At times, this world can seem
Just like a cold icy ball
But don't let that discourage you
'Cause you're young––take that call
And if it's my wife
Just try and stall
How you get home
Do you have a boyfriend?
Or do you live alone?
I'm going your way
If you're going mine
No, I feel fine
But before you go
Let me just pass on one thing
To hold out your hand
To help the other guy out
Help your fellow man
That's why I own this bar
They're thirsty outside
I give 'em oceans to drink
Then they drown in the tide
To hold out your hand
To help the other guy out
Help your fellow man
That's why I own this bar
They're thirsty outside
I give 'em oceans to drink
Then they drown in the tide
They just drown in the tide
They just drown in the tide
They just drown in the tide
They just drown in the tide
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An example of Stan's ability to write complex characters, and still have them say something. In this case, its a bar owner on the make talking about how we need to find some kind of purpose, and any purpose will do.
"A Mission In Life" is not a deep song but it contains much depth.
A snapshot of the mundane becomes a plea for connection, empathy, and grace.
In substance, it is simply a vignette in time. A monologue from a barkeep more than ready to close up for the night. He chides his customers, he flirts half-heartedly with his staff and in the final, repeated refrain, he expresses to "Sue" that she should strive for more. The melody, though... the slow but relentless rhythm, tell me that he might carry regrets about not having lived his fullest life. Over thirty years ago, it stood out. It gave me pause on each listen. As a much older person, it is goosebumps. As silly as some of his catalogue can get, Stan Ridgway has crafted a real bullet here and it does not miss.