XTC Earn Enough For Us

From Their 1986 Album Skylarking.

Lyrics:

I've been praying all the week through
At home, at work and on the bus
I've been praying I can keep you
And to earn enough for us

I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us

Found a house that won't repair itself
With it's windows cracking
And a roof held together with holes
Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder
We shouldn't be sadder
Than others like us
Who have goals for the betterment of life
Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest
I've been praying all the week through
At home at work and on the bus
I've been praying I can keep you
And to earn enough for us

So you're saying that we're going to be three
Now, a father's what I'll be
Don't get me wrong, I'm so proud
But the belt's already tight
I'll get another job at night, but honest

I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder
We shouldn't be sadder
Than others like us
Who have goals for the betterment of life
Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest

I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the Boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
I can earn enough for us

Category:

Music

Tags:

• XTC
• Earn
• Enough
• Skylarking

[popomatic1970]

3 minutes of pop perfection. This band does not, has never received enough credit for the music they inspired. They carried the Beatles torch and passed it on to bands like The Shins, Grizzly Bear, and My Morning Jacket. Thank you, XTC

[TheMightyHartley]

Absolutely fantastic track.

Listen to Colin's bass during the guitar solo - very melodic, sounds just like McCartney.

[greatsajby]

Many are (correctly) referencing "Rain" as a Beatles analogue here...but no mention of the coda being a direct and loving tribute to the coda of "We Can Work it Out"...which when you compare the texts of the two songs is so very appropriate. 

[InParticularNobody]

@SleepyTymeT the latter

[typod1093]

I always felt this song broke the cohesiveness of Skylarking. It feels like Earn Enough for us Should have been a part of Mummer or English Settlement. Nonetheless it is a fantastic XTC song; I've probably played my LP copy a hunderd times.

[RoofLight00]

This is defo a Dukes Of Stratosphear 'leftover' song.....my favorite from this LP. Also reminds me a bit of the Beatles 'Rain' genius as ever from AP and Co.

[sharrison586]

loooooove that snare.

[DJFucc1]

I love how the emotion changes from upbeat to whatever you call that for a second, and then back.

[seattlesharksfan]

1 person didn't earn enough for themselves

[peterzang]

@JavelBleach No question about it, my friend. Of course if Partridge could've toured it might have been different. But regardless, these are great songs. And they will last. Peace Peter Z

[JavelBleach]

@peterzang If that's the case then the world's entire music industry is just totally criminally stupid. There are billions of people crying out to hear XTC and just don't know it! I was one of them - I thought they'd stopped playing 20 years ago! Now I want to buy ALL their albums I didn't even know existed.

[Theodoric1]

not getting their due.