By: Mac McAnally 

1970 

For Mac who reminds me of me seven years ago 

In the middle of late last night I was sittin' on a curb 

I didn't know what about, but I was feelin' quite disturbed 

A street sweeper came whistlin' by, he was bouncin' every step 

It seemed strange how good he felt, so I asked him while he swept 



Chorus: 

He said, "It's my job to be cleaning up this mess 

And that's enough reason to go for me 

It's my job to be better than the rest 

And that makes a day for me." 



I got an uncle who owns a bank, he's a self-made millionaire 

He never had anyone to love, never had no one to care 

He always seemed kinda sad to me and I asked him why that was 

And he told me it's because in my contract there's this clause 



Chorus: 

That says, "It's my job to be worried half to death 

And that's the thing people respect in me 

It's my job but without it I'd be less 

Than what I expect from me." 



Now I've been lazy most all my life writin' songs and sleepin' late 

And any manual labor I've done was purely by mistake 

If street sweepers can smile then I've got no right to feel upset 

But sometimes I still forget 

'Til the lights go on and the stage is set 

And the song hits home and you feel that sweat 



Chorus: 

It's my job to be different than the rest 

And that's enough reason to go for me 

It's my job to be better than the rest 

And that's a rough break for me 



Chorus: 

It's my job to be cleaning up this mess 

And that's enough reason to go for me 

It's my job to be better than the rest 

And that makes the day for me 



- Notes: 

Background Vocals: Mac McAnally, J.D. Souther