Grateful Dead - Keep Your Day Job Lyrics

Maybe you collect or maybe you pay
Still got to work that eight hour day
Whether you like that job or not
Keep it on ice while you're lining up your long shot (note 1)
Which is to say, hey-ey

Keep your day job
Don't give it away
Keep your day job
Whatever they say

Ring that bell for whatever it's worth
When Monday comes, don't forget about work
By now you know that face on your dollar
Got a thumb to its nose and a hand on your collar
Which is to say, hey-ey

Punch that time card, check that clock
But when Monday comes gotta run, run, run - not walk

Steady boy, study that eight day hour
But don't underrate that pay-check power
If you ask me, which I know you don't
I'd tell you to do what I know you won't
Which is to say, hey-ey

Daddy may drive a V-8 'vet
Mama may bathe in champagne yet
God bless the child with his own stash
Nine to five and a place to crash

Keep your day job, until your night job pays

The version in the second edition of the Hunter lyric book is as follows (see below for the Dead's version):

(1) the first edition of the Hunter book had this line as "Gotta do your work while you're lining up your long shot"