When I was a young man (as all good tales begin) 

  I was taught to hold out my hand 

And for my pay I worked an honest day 

  and took what pittance I could win 

Now I'm a working John and I'm a working Joe 

  and I'm doing what I know 

  for God and the Economy 

Big brother watches over me 

And the state protects and feeds me 

And my conscience never leaves me 

And I'm loyal to the unions 

  who protect me at all levels 



And as I grew, the winds of fortune blew 

  and the bank smiled down upon me 

And mortgaged to the hilt I threw 

  the breeze of caution behind me 

Now I'm a working John and I'm a working Joe 

  and I'm good at what I know 

And God and the Economy 

  have blessed me with equality 

Now I'm equal to the best of you 

And better than the rest of you 

  who would criticise my success 

  in times of national unrest 



Now I own my horseless carriage 

  in its central-heated garage 

And I commute eighty miles a day --- 

  up at seven to make it pay 

I direct ten limited companies 

  with seeming consummate expertise 

  two ulcers and a heart disease 

  a trembling feeling in both knees --- 

I'm a working John and I'm a working Joe