So I got my walking papers! I got all the flowery compliments How I was loved by all How well I had done my job How I would be missed, But... 70 was mandatory retiring age And it was my birthday! My birthday present 70 years old to the day. "Well, it's time you retired," they said. I'd been saying for some time "Don't celebrate my birthday"- I didn't think of losing my job I just didn't like the sound of S E V E N T Y! You know how it is When you hit thirty You say to yourself "Well, at least I'm not forty yet - And when you're forty You console yourself with "Fifty is still some time away." But "S E V E N T Y"! I'd been vaguely thinking for some time "I wouldn't mind retiring - I'm still healthy I should do something More fulfilling for myself Than just selling Someone else's furniture. What does it mean to the world Or to me, for that matter If Mr. A buys himself another chair Or Mrs. B. hangs new curtains in her living room?" I asked some of the younger people, "If you knew you had only five more years to live Would you stick around this salesroom? What would you do?" Who was it who said, "Live your life's each moment As if it were your last?" How do you do that? The youngsters had no answer. "Have to earn a living," They rasped at me. Well, I changed the question "What would you do if money was no problem - The world is open to you You can do whatever you want, What would you want?" "Ugh!" they answered, "Don't bother us with philosophy." But I'm bothering myself. How can I use Each life's moment As if it were my last? What do I want? I want---- I want --- What is it I want? To be alive, I guess That's what I want To be really alive! A job is a funny thing. Sometimes it's sooo boring Sometimes it's sooo annoying You're a slave, "Got to get to work!" Tied down, Never can do what you want! Have to go to work! My friends said, "That's wonderful, Now you won't have to get up so early. You can stay in bed As long as you want" Is that what I want? To stay in bed? The sun is up and shining Doing its job The birds are twittering in the trees Doing their job The kids are walking to school Schoolbags on their backs Doing their job Men are starting their cars Going to their jobs. And I - Not having to get up to do any job! Just to do what I want! What I want! What do I want Could it be - A Job?