• From: Hendersonville, NC USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,521

Topic: My Paying Job

I was watching the movie Once about a talented singer songwriter trying to make it. I imagined what that must be like if I had that kind of talent. A busker's life is a tough and risky life indeed, but how is it so different from the paying job life. This song is about the paying job life.

My Paying Job by Jeff Gilpin


~~~~~~~~~~~~


~~(10/11/2020~~


~~~~~~~~~~~~


Intro – fingerpicking C

~


My paying [C]job


Keeps the [F]roof over my [C]head.


It [F]helps me to en[C]sure that my [G]bank account’s not dead.


It [F]keeps me in the [C]niceties that [E]I require to [F]live,


And [C]all I have to [G]do is just put [F]in the time I give


To my paying [C]job.


~


My paying [C]job


[F]Doesn’t take much [C]time.


I [F]have to get in [C]early, but [G]that’s really not a crime,


And [F]yes maybe I [C]have to work [E]just a little [F]late,


[C]Even then I [G]still get [F]home by eight


From my paying [C]job. [C7]


~


And [Am]when I get home I grab my [F]guitar,


And I [C]strum a little while until I [G]doze.


Then I [Am]play a little longer, and I [F]amble off to bed,


And [C]sleep if I’m able, and then I'll [G]start the day again,


As I’ll [F]head off once [G]more to


My paying [C]job



~


My paying [C]job.


It’s not about [F]glamour or about [C]glitz.


It’s about [F]climbing up the [C]ladder from the [G]middle of the midst,


And I’ll [F]climb about as [C]high as my [E]boss thinks I am [F]able,


And I'll [C]put a bit more [G]food upon my [F]table


From my paying [C]job.


~


My paying [C]job


Been [F]working a long [C]while,


And [F]now I find I’ve [C]grown accustomed [G]living in this style.


I [F]don’t complain a [C]bit about the [E]lack of what I’m [F]taking.


[C]I continue [G]bringing home the [F]bacon


Thanks to my paying [C]job. [C7]


~


[Am]One day if I’m able I'll put this [F]life away.


[C]Go off somewhere and play my old gui[G]tar.


And I’ll [Am]play all through the day, [F]try and make it to bed,


And [C]sleep as long as I’m able until the [G]nurse comes by again


With my [F]morning meds, all [G]paid for by


My paying [C]job.


~


Fade fingerpicking Cmaj7




J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

jets60's Website

  • From: Hendersonville, NC USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,521

Re: My Paying Job

On my soundcloud page if you want to hear: https://soundcloud.com/jets60/my-paying-job     

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

jets60's Website

3 Reply by Peatle Jville (edited by Peatle Jville 2020-10-12 08:31:19)

  • Registered: 2015-07-31
  • Posts: 2,792

Re: My Paying Job

Jeff many a muso I have known over the years could relate with what you have written.

4 Reply by Phill Williams (edited by Phill Williams 2020-10-12 08:42:43)

  • From: The Land Of Song
  • Registered: 2007-12-10
  • Posts: 5,704

Re: My Paying Job

I see your little vacation has paid off handsomely Jeff! This side of the pond we call it "the day job" . Balancing both day job and the busking for almost 40 years helps pay for stuff. You usually find the traveling, the incidentals like strings or new/replacement equipment and repairs still leave you in deficit. But it's the love of performing, though I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be in the audience on a new years eve gig? I'll find out this year I expect.

Great little song, I could hear a banjo doing the finger picking.

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Phill Williams's Website

  • From: Hendersonville, NC USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,521

Re: My Paying Job

Thanks Phill - Yep, good to be back but I enjoyed my time away. I can hear that banjo as well. It's a tough balance work and music, but I'm glad you were able to maintain.     

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

jets60's Website