"I Work Like I Get Paid", a workplace poem, with credit for the inspiration going to Hollis in Grapevine, Texas.

I Work Like I Get Paid [Part 1 of my Employment Trilogy]

Original song lyrics by Chrome Dome Mike Kimbro

Inspired by a conversation with Hollis in Grapevine, Texas.

Structure Scheme: Accent points align for verses 1, 3, 5, & 7, as they do for 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, & 13.

Consider reading along to my Spoken Verse Performance.

INTRO

At work, I don't play.

In spite of my wages,

I get 'er done. That's what I do.

With a song I'm gonna say,

What they won't find in the pages,

Of the Harvard Business Review:

I work like I get paid,

Just a little every other week.

VERSE 1

Things were going fine,

At the old salt mine.

Til my boss didn't show up one day.

VERSE 2

No, he didn't get(*) fired,

Just decided to retire.

At least that's what the suits(*) all say.

VERSE 3

With a boss that's new.

There is much to do,

In the hope that he sees it my way.

VERSE 4

I don't mean to be lethargic.

But to fast I am allergic,

Except on every other Fri-day.

CHORUS

Because I,

Work like I get paid.

A little every other week.

Work like I get paid.

My skill set ain't unique.

Work like I get paid.

Pretty much hit my peak.

And while I put on the,

Yoke, yoke, yoke, [Note: descending]

And dress like a company man.

Before you call out:

"Stroke, stroke, stroke", [Note: ascending]

Think it's time you understand...

Work like I get paid,

A little every other week.

VERSE 5

We were so in love,

Like two white wing doves.

In my mind, life was going just great.

VERSE 6

She brings to mind Roman statues.

Cheap hair dye only devalues.

At last, I had a perfect soul mate.

VERSE 7

Asked her to devote.

She said, and I quote:

"Darling no, cause it's per-fect this way."

VERSE 8

To go steady wasn't her plan.

Seems the only time I'm her man,

Occurs on every other Fri-day.

CHORUS 2

Because I,

Work like I get paid.

A little every other week.

Work like I get paid.

My skill set ain't unique.

Work like I get paid.

Pretty much hit my peak.

And while I put on the,

Yoke, yoke, yoke,

And dress like a company man.

Before you call out:

"Stroke, stroke, stroke",

Think it's time you understand...

Work like I get paid,

A little every other week.

BRIDGE

Between the start of the shift,

And the dinner bell's ring,

I'm always here.

And do my job,

Eventually.

When my pace isn't swift,

And they're threatening 'Beijing',

My mantra's clear.

A truth I've learned,

Existentially:

"I work like I get paid,

Just a little every other Friday."

CHORUS 3

Because I,

Work like I get paid.

A little every other week.

Work like I get paid.

My skill set ain't unique.

Work like I get paid.

Pretty much hit my peak.

And while I put on the,

Yoke, yoke, yoke,

And dress like a company man.

Before you call out:

"Stroke, stroke, stroke",

Think it's time you understand...

Work like I get paid,

A little every other week.

VERSE 9

To hard work I am resistant.

But at least I am consistent,

Except on every other Fri-day.

VERSE 10

While I'm less than energetic,

Don't you say that I'm pathetic.

'Specially on every other Fri-day.

VERSE 11

While my work rate's not exciting

I conserve it for my writing.

Except on every other Fri-day.

VERSE 12

For the hustle I'm conserving.

An award I am deserving,

Except on every other Fri-day.

VERSE 13

While it seems I've been sedated,

My whole team's un-mo-tivated.

Except on every other Fri-day.

CHORUS 4 (sung by all of the workers)

Because we,

Work like we get paid.

A little every other week.

Work like we get paid.

Our skill set ain't unique.

Work like we get paid.

Pretty much hit our peak.

And while we put on the,

Yoke, yoke, yoke,

And dress like a company man.

Before you call out:

"Stroke, stroke, stroke",

Think it's time you understand...

We,

Work like we get paid,

A little every other week.

The End