Lyrics Nellie McKay - Respectable

There's a rich boy
But he doesn't spend
He just drinks his Poland Spring
He's a quick boy walking round the bend
Or at home alone reading
And he wants to do good
And he wants to do right
So he does what he should
But he's got to subscribe
To the rules of the tribe

Now you're
Playing for the team
Everybody loves to love a winner
And you're busting 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 nothing on me
You gotcha east side certified pedigree
But you won't have nothing 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 nothing on me
You gotcha upper crust dinner tux sanctimony
But you won't have nothing 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 paying
Ah what are you saying
Are you gonna sell
Are you gonna buy
Are you gonna fizzle out or hit
Where are you laying
Ah what are you saying

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 looking for a queen
Everybody talks too much and argues
And it makes you wanna scream
Don't these little punks
Realize who they're talking 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 nothing on me
You gotcha caterers and prada and your maitre'd
But you won't have nothing 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 nothing on me
You're the respectable members of society
You're so respectable
You're the respectable members of
You're so respectable