We Get By
Jamie Webster Lyrics
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Inspired by magic beans
And all the squares are filled with despair
But all the little dancing feet don't seem to care
To the ones who go straight to the boozer
As soon as they end work
Because the boss' son's a knobhead
Three tonne for the week's graft
And sometimes I get it cash in hand
Boss is leasing a Bentley
Still probably cost him a hundred grand
A hundred grand
You might say to me
There's more to life than this
But we've not got a pound
Our heads are barely above ground
To make ends meet we try
Then spend what's left on booze and getting high
Still we get by
Tonnes of people queuing for their giro cheque
Late Thursday on Walton Breck
Bills come out at midnight, then you're left with the score
Just like last week and all those times before
Though we still have our moments
Those bursts of happiness
Even though the boiler's broken
And the stairs and landing are a mess
Won't ever be beaten
'Cause we've got them and they've got us
So roll on in your Bentley
Because for now I think I'm happy on the bus
You might say to me
There's more to life than this
But we've not got a pound
Our heads are barely above ground
To make ends meet we try
And then spend what's left on booze and getting high
Still we get by
Bye yesterday, from you I'm running far away
Today's the day that I got paid
And the one where all my dreams are made
To make ends meet I'll try
And then spend what's left on booze and getting high
Still, we get by
The song "We Get By" by Jamie Webster captures a vivid picture of the tough lives many working-class people lead in urban environments. In the opening lines, the "raven's jaws" suggest death and decay, while "the land of dreams inspired by magic beans" represents the unattainable fantasies people cling onto as a means of escape. The song talks about how the squares, the established members of society, are filled with despair, but the everyday people's "dancing feet" don't seem to care. This is because they are too busy living their lives and trying to get by.
The song delves into the daily struggles of people trying to make ends meet, from going straight to the local pub after work to deal with the frustrations of reality to queuing for a giro cheque. The lyrics paint a picture of the trappings of low-paid work, where often people have to work long hours for low pay. While bosses like the one mentioned in the song drive their Bentleys and spend a hundred grand on them, these workers have to worry about paying the bills and putting food on the table. However, despite all of this, the song says "Still, we get by."
The song highlights the resilience of these people, who find joy even in the little things in life, such as moments of happiness, despite the broken-down boiler and messy stairs. They find solace in the fact that they have each other and that they are still getting by. The line "For now, I think I'm happy on the bus" conveys a sense of contentment that, despite everything, these people have found a way to keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
The raven's jaws are swinging in the land of dreams
There's a sense of confusion and chaos in the air, things aren't necessarily as they appear
Inspired by magic beans
The singer is trying to convey that there's not always a logical reason to what's going on, and that things are often fueled by unforeseeable circumstances
And all the squares are filled with despair
Those who live predictable and safe lives are feeling gloomy about their mundane existence
But all the little dancing feet don't seem to care
Despite the troubles plaguing the world, some people are still able to tune out the negativity and find joy in their present moments
To the ones who go straight to the boozer
This is directed at those who see drinking as a form of escapism
As soon as they end work
After a long day of work, certain people turn to alcohol to unwind and forget about their problems
Because the boss' son's a knobhead
The presence of an incompetent, annoying colleague can be enough to drive somebody mad
And he's drivin' all of the lads berzerk
Because of the son's actions, everyone else is feeling irritated, frustrated and on edge
Three tonne for the week's graft
The artist has worked hard all week and has earned a significant amount of money
And sometimes I get it cash in hand
Occasionally, the earnings are given to the worker in cash, free of taxes and without a paper trail
Boss is leasing a Bentley
Despite not paying his workers what they're worth, the boss can afford an extravagant car
Still probably cost him a hundred grand
Even though it's leased, the car is still worth a substantial amount of money
You might say to me
There's more to life than this
But we've not got a pound
Our heads are barely above ground
To make ends meet we try
Then spend what's left on booze and getting high
Still we get by
The singer acknowledges that they're living in squalor and making poor financial decisions, but they're still finding ways to survive despite their hardships
Tonnes of people queuing for their giro cheque
Late Thursday on Walton Breck
Giro cheques refer to unemployment benefits, and people are lining up to collect them
Bills come out at midnight, then you're left with the score
Just like last week and all those times before
The singer laments the need to pay bills, which leaves them with little to no money to enjoy their life
Though we still have our moments
Those bursts of happiness
Even though the boiler's broken
And the stairs and landing are a mess
Despite the fact that their living conditions aren't great, they can still find moments of joy in life
Won't ever be beaten
'Cause we've got them and they've got us
Adversity won't break their spirit because they have each other and they've formed a support system
So roll on in your Bentley
Because for now I think I'm happy on the bus
The singer doesn't need an expensive car to be happy, and they're content with the little joys in life
Bye yesterday, from you I'm running far away
Today's the day that I got paid
And the one where all my dreams are made
The singer is excited about payday because they feel like they can now work towards achieving their dreams
To make ends meet I'll try
And then spend what's left on booze and getting high
Still, we get by
Once again, the artist acknowledges their financial struggles and unhealthy coping mechanisms, but they're still making it through life one day at a time
Writer(s): Jamie Webster
Contributed by Max C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.