She don't wear no pants and she don't wear no tie
Always on the ball, she's always on strike
Struttin' up the aisle, big deal, you get to fly
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky

Paid my fare, don't want to complain
You get to me, you're always outta champagne
Treat me like a bum, don't wear no tie
'Cause you ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky, oh hoh

And the sign says, "Thank you very much for not smoking"
My own sign says, "I'm sorry, I'm smokin'"
Don't treat me special or don't kiss my ass
Treat me like the way they treat 'em up in first class

Sanitation expert and a maintenance engineer
Garbage man, a janitor and you my dear
A real union flight attendant, my oh my
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky

Oh oh, ba ba, oh oh, ba ba, oh oh, ba, ba, oh oh

Overall Meaning

The Replacements' song "Waitress in the Sky" is a humorous and sarcastic critique of the airline industry and the treatment of flight attendants. The song's lyrics focus on the thinly veiled sexism and classism of the airline industry, with lines like "She don't wear no pants and she don't wear no tie" and "Treat me like a bum, don't wear no tie." The song speaks to the way that flight attendants are often viewed as disposable labor, with no real value beyond serving drinks and snacks to passengers.

The chorus, which repeats the phrase "You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky," is a cutting critique of the way that flight attendants are often viewed as unskilled laborers. The song suggests that the skills and expertise required to work in the airline industry, such as being able to handle emergencies and maintain the safety of passengers, are often overlooked or undervalued. The song's final verse takes aim at the unionized flight attendants who are meant to represent the interests of their fellow workers, suggesting that they are just as complicit in the exploitation of flight attendants as their employers.

Overall, "Waitress in the Sky" is a clever and catchy satire of the airline industry and the treatment of flight attendants. However, it also points to larger issues of classism and sexism in the workplace, reminding us that just because a job is traditionally associated with women or working-class people doesn't mean it's any less important or valuable.

Line by Line Meaning

She don't wear no pants and she don't wear no tie
The waitress wears a uniform that consists of a skirt and blouse. She does not wear pants or a tie

Always on the ball, she's always on strike
The waitress is constantly moving, attentive, and works hard. She is always doing her job, but is not hesitant to go on strike if she thinks it is necessary

Struttin' up the aisle, big deal, you get to fly
The waitress confidently walks up and down the aisle of the airplane. She knows that the passengers are excited to be flying and she is not impressed

You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
The waitress is nothing more than a server on an airplane. She is not above anyone on the flight, despite her job title

Paid my fare, don't want to complain
The customer has paid for their ticket and does not want to cause any trouble

You get to me, you're always outta champagne
The waitress does not provide the customer with the level of service they expected. She runs out of champagne, which is a symbol of the high-class service provided in first class

Treat me like a bum, don't wear no tie
The customer feels like they are treated poorly by the waitress. They are not given the same respect as others simply based on their appearance

'Cause you ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
Again, the waitress is nothing more than a server on an airplane. Her job title does not make her above anyone on the flight

And the sign says, "Thank you very much for not smoking"
There is a sign in the airplane that thanks the passengers for not smoking onboard

My own sign says, "I'm sorry, I'm smokin'"
The customer is being sarcastic and basically saying that they do not care about the no smoking sign and will smoke anyway

Don't treat me special or don't kiss my ass
The customer does not want any special treatment or favors. They just want to be treated like everyone else and not have anyone try to flatter them

Treat me like the way they treat 'em up in first class
The customer wants the same level of service and respect that is given to those in first class

Sanitation expert and a maintenance engineer
The customer lists other jobs that are considered low compared to the waitress's job title

Garbage man, a janitor and you my dear
Again, the customer is comparing the waitress's job to other jobs that are considered low

A real union flight attendant, my oh my
The customer is mocking the waitress's job title by suggesting that being in a union does not make it any more impressive

You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
The customer reminds the waitress once again that she is nothing more than a server on an airplane

Oh oh, ba ba, oh oh, ba ba, oh oh, ba, ba, oh oh
This is just a repetition of the chorus

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it