Nellie McKay – Respectable

There’s a rich boy

but he doesn’t spend

he just drinks his Poland Spring

he’s a quick boy walkin’ round the bend

or at home alone reading

and he tries to do good

and he tries to do right

so he does what he should

but he’s got to subscribe

to the rules of the tribe

now you’re

playin’ for the team

everybody loves to love a winner

and you’re bustin’ the beguine

everybody knows you’re no beginner

but ah the bums say oh

things ain’t what they seem

you’re the respectable member of society

but you don’t have nothin’ on me

you gotcha east side certified pedigree

but you won’t have nothin’ you’ll see

because I warned you

they would scorn you

but you never did a thing

when you go in for the kill

everybody wants to make it happen

and you make a hundred mil

everybody wants to scratch your back then

but ah the freaks say oh

things ain’t what they seem

you’re a respectable member of society

but you don’t have nothin’ on me

you gotcha uppercrust dinner tux sanctimony

but you won’t have nothin’ you’ll see

because I told you

they would mold you

but you never did a thing

are you gonna tell

are you gonna hide

are you

gonna join the crowd or split

who are you payin’

ah what are you sayin’

are you gonna sell

are you gonna buy

are you gonna fizzle out or hit

where are you layin’

ah what are you sayin’

he’s a grown man

and he wears a tie

and his laugh is hard and fast

he’s a old man

far before his time

and his jacket holds a flask

and he tried to do good

and he tried

to do right

so he did what he could

but he had to subscribe

to the rules of the tribe

now you’re lookin’ for a queen

everybody talks too much and argues

and it makes you wanna scream

don’t these little punks

realize who they’re talkin’ to

but ah the scrubs say oh

things ain’t what they seem

you’re a respectable member of society

but you don’t have nothin’ on me

you gotcha caterers and prada and your maitre’d

but you won’t have nothin’ you’ll see

because I warned you

they would burn you

but you never did a thing

you’re the respectable members of society

but you don’t have nothin on me

you’re the respectable members of society

you’re so respectable

you’re the respectable members of

you’re so respectable