Don't Give Up Your Daytime Job
| Don't Give Up Your Daytime Job | |
|---|---|
| Recorded by Sting and Jean Roussel | |
| Released: | officially unreleased |
| Recorded: | 1981 |
| Length: | LENGTH |
| Album(s): | unreleased |
| Label(s): | --- |
| Writer(s): | Sting |
| Producer(s): | Sting / Jean Roussel |
| Studio(s): | Jean Roussel's home in Montreal, Canada (?) |
| Released as single: | No |
Don't Give Up Your Daytime Job is a song written by Sting and recorded by Sting and Jean Roussel as a demo in 1981.
Contents
About the song
According to the book L'Historia Bandido Sting wrote this song for Last Exit after he quit his teacher's job in the summer of 1976. In 1977 he presented the song to Henry Padovani and Stewart Copeland, who rejected it because it's message didn't suit the current punk vibe.
The demo version that's circulating among fans is from a later date. Gerry Richardson says the keyboard work is not his and Jean Roussel thinks that the keyboards in the song sound like him. This would mean that it was recorded either in late 1980 or early 1981 in Montreal, Canada.
Personnel
- Sting - vocals
- possibly Jean Roussel - keyboards
Release History
This song is only circulating in its demo version on the "Ghost demos".
Lyrics
I hadn't slept for three whole weeks I'm burning the midnight oil The pace of work had reached the stage That sleep could only spoil It was early morning in the fading light My creation was not complete The song that I composed alone It was inside of me The song would be my masterpiece The one to make my name Bring me immortality Inside the hall of fame I took it to my publisher My heart was bursting with pride "Listen very carefully" Then took me aside "Now listen son I like your song It's got a certain charm But don't give up your daytime job And you won't come to no harm" Don´t give up your daytime job Don´t give up your daytime job I started to devote my life To painting and the arts Leave the music world behind To break them precious hearts I bought a brush and tube of paint And a canvas of my own Started painting brick-a-brack That lay around my home The work would be my masterpiece The one to make my name Bring me immortality Inside the hall of fame I took it to a gallery To see if they would buy They turned my picture upside down And then released a sigh "Now Listen son Don't get me wrong Your talent is quite clear Just don't give up your daytime job And stay away from here" Don't give up your daytime job Don't give up your daytime job Don't give up your daytime job Don't give up your daytime job I had to give expression To the thoughts inside my head I bought myself a writing pad I'd write a book instead I'd write my own biography The story of my life The day I started grammar school To the day I met my wife This book would be a masterpiece The one to make my name Bring me immortality Inside the hall of fame I took it to a publisher He said, "I'll read your book at home" A week went by, I heard no news And so I telephoned "I read as far as chapter three Then I tore your book in half Just don't give up your daytime job And you won't ever starve" Don't give up your daytime job Don't give up your daytime job This could be my masterpiece This could be my masterpiece This could be my masterpiece This could be my masterpiece This could be my masterpiece This could be my masterpiece This could be my masterpiece
Quotations and trivia
Between recording the demo for Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic in winter 1980/1981 and the Montserrat recordings in the summer of 1981 Sting returned to Montreal and stayed at Jean Roussel's house for a few days. They recorded a few songs which they had written together - and probably this one, too.
Alternative and cover versions
This section needs more information.
See also
This section needs more information.
External links
References
source: L'Historia Bandido, Henry Padovani, Jean Roussel, Gerry Richardson / Paul Carr, demo
