A Well Respected Man
The Kinks Lyrics

Cause he gets up in the morning
The man has a rigid routine that he follows everyday.

And he goes to work at nine
He has a steady job that starts at a specific time in the morning.

And he comes back home at five-thirty
His job ends at a specific time in the evening, allowing him to return home immediately afterward.

Gets the same train every time
He uses public transportation to get to work and always takes the same route.

Cause his world is built 'round punctuality
He values punctuality and has organized his life around being on time.

It never fails
He is always punctual and never late.

And he's oh, so good
He has a reputation for being a good person.

And he's oh, so fine
He has a reputation for being attractive and well-dressed.

And he's oh, so healthy
He has a reputation for being physically fit and healthy.

In his body and his mind
He values taking care of both his physical and mental health.

He's a well-respected man about town
He is highly regarded and respected by others in the community.

Doing the best thing so conservatively
He always plays it safe and never takes unnecessary risks.

And his mother goes to meetings
His mother is involved in local community activities and events.

While his father pulls the maid
His father is having an affair with the family's maid.

And she stirs the tea with councilors
His mother socializes with important people and government officials.

While discussing foreign trade
The people she socializes with are likely discussing business and commercial interests.

And she passes looks, as well as bills
She is flirtatious and financially generous with other men.

At every suave young man
She is attracted to and flirts with younger, smooth-talking men.

And he likes his own backyard
He enjoys his own space and privacy at home.

And he likes his fags the best
He prefers smoking cigarettes over other smoking options.

Cause he's better than the rest
He feels superior to others in his social circle.

And his own sweat smells the best
He is confident in his own body odor and finds it attractive.

And he hopes to grab his father's loot
He dreams of inheriting his father's money and assets.

When Pater passes on
He is waiting for his father to die so that he can inherit his wealth.

And he plays at stocks and shares
He invests his money in the stock market to try and make more wealth.

And he goes to the regatta
He enjoys participating in rowing races as a leisure activity.

He adores the girl next door
He has a crush on the girl who lives next door.

Cause he's dying to get at her
He is desperate to pursue a romantic relationship with her.

But his mother knows the best about
His mother is the one in charge of selecting his future spouse.

The matrimonial stakes
The decision of who he will marry is an important one with significant consequences.