Middle Management
Bishop Allen Lyrics
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I'm over by the water cooler
Listen to the chatter
While I'm working to get fired but it doesn't seem to matter
When the week is nearly through
But I find something to do
Cause the end is coming soon
Yeah the end is coming
Alright!
Alright!
Well alright!
Alright!
Put the days together and they start to do some damage
If the mean is in the middle then I know that I will manage
When the week is nearly through
I will find something to do
Cause the end is coming soon
Yeah the end is coming
The telephone is ringing right off the hook
Must be one of those days where I got the shakes that just can't shook
Pick up the phone and say we're alright
Alright!
Alright!
Alrighty
[Repeat: x4]
And I don't wanna have to think about it
(Why should you think about it)
The telephone is ringing right off the hook must be one of those days where I got the shakes
That just can't shook
Alright! [Repeat: x6]
Alrighty
Well alright!
In Bishop Allen's song Middle Management, the singer is describing his daily routine as a middle manager. He is over by the water cooler listening to office gossip, but he's working to get fired because he's dissatisfied with his job. Even though he knows the end of the week is coming soon, he still finds something to do to pass the time. Putting the days together starts to do some damage, but the singer knows he can manage because he's in the middle. The telephone is ringing off the hook, but the singer picks it up and says, "we're alright," even though he's clearly struggling. At the end of the song, he repeats "alright" several times, almost as if he's trying to convince himself that everything will be okay.
The lyrics in this song have a distinct feeling of ennui and boredom, which many people may relate to if they've ever worked in an office setting. The singer is clearly disillusioned with his job and feels like it's a dead end. He's just trying to pass the time until the end of the week, and maybe even hoping to get fired. The repeated use of the word "alright" has a slightly sarcastic tone to it, as if the singer is trying to put on a brave face even though he's not really okay. Overall, the song feels like a commentary on the monotony of office life and the struggle to find meaning in work.
Line by Line Meaning
Alright!
The singer is excited and pumped up
I'm over by the water cooler
The singer is at his workplace
Listen to the chatter
The singer is paying attention to workplace gossip
While I'm working to get fired but it doesn't seem to matter
The singer is not satisfied with his job and doesn't care about getting fired.
When the week is nearly through
The singer is looking forward to the end of the work week
But I find something to do
The singer keeps busy at work
Cause the end is coming soon
The work week is going to end soon.
Yeah the end is coming
The singer is relieved that the end of the week is near.
Put the days together and they start to do some damage
The singer dislikes the daily routine and work.
If the mean is in the middle then I know that I will manage
The artist manages to cope with the job somehow.
The telephone is ringing right off the hook
The singer is getting many phone calls.
Must be one of those days where I got the shakes that just can't shook
Something in the workplace is causing anxiety.
Pick up the phone and say we're alright
The singer puts up a facade of being okay.
And I don't wanna have to think about it
The singer wants to avoid dealing with the stress of work.
(Why should you think about it)
A rhetorical question emphasizing the point that the stress isn't worth thinking about.
Alrighty
An exclamation of excitement
Well alright!
A phrase that signals agreement or approval.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christian Rudder, Justin Rice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tenoriomaya
Alright!
I'm over by the water cooler
Listen to the chatter
While I'm working to get fired but it doesn't seem to matter
When the week is nearly through
But I find something to do
Cause the end is coming soon
Yeah the end is coming
Alright!
Alright!
Well alright!
Alright!
Put the days together and they start to do some damage
If the mean is in the middle then I know that I will manage
When the week is nearly through
I will find something to do
Cause the end is coming soon
Yeah the end is coming
The telephone is ringing right off the hook
Must be one of those days where I got the shakes that just can't shook
Pick up the phone and say we're alright
Alright!
Alright!
Alrighty
And I don't wanna have to think about it
(Why should you think about it)
The telephone is ringing right off the hook must be one of those days where I got the shakes
That just can't shook
Alright! [Repeat: x6]
Alrighty
Well alright!
@matthewjohnson7124
One of the most underappreciated bands of all time. Too bad they are on hiatus or broke up, or whatever their current story is. Their song Chinatown Bus is one of the all-time greats
@bigboybreathlesslol2608
justin rice and darbie nowatka is my aunt and uncle from bishop allen i’m will nowatka
@Slice2099
@@bigboybreathlesslol2608 wait for real are you joking are you being serious
@dirtyquarantini766
Must be one of those days!! Love this movie.
@Slice2099
Same
@maloreychee250
I love Nick&Norah's Infinite Playlist, and the music in the movie.
@kuyarickkelley4719
Lol that movie is a steaming pile of shit
@Slice2099
Kuya Rick Kelley no
@michellesustaita8809
62
@thewhatness
I'm so glad that this movie led to some lovely, underappreciated bands like Bishop Allen. I'm also guilty of wanting The Jerk Offs to be a real band.