The painter stood before his work
He looked around everywhere
He saw the ceiling and he painted it
Then rinsed the colour from his hair

Cup of tea, paint till three
It's hard to match it in this light
Hit the road before evening comes
Hit the booze in the night

There's destruction behind me
There's destruction ahead
Though the owners shout and scream, they can get lost
Though the owners shout and scream, they can get lost

He climbed the steps
He held his end up
He did the work of two men
But now and then he sat down
Before he got up again

He likes to sleep diurnally
On old dust sheets in the lounge
He saves a lot on masking tape
He'd rather go on the scrounge

There's destruction behind me
But I missed that vase
Though the owners shout and scream, they can get lost
Though the owners shout and scream, they can get lost

Monday's tight, Tuesday's booked
Wednesday morning might be all right
Second coat when Thursday evening comes
It'll dry through the night