Mary Got A New Job

(Album: The Paxton Report - 1980)

Mary got a new job working on a line
Help to make the automobiles
It wasn't very long 'til the job was going fine
And she liked the way it made her feel
It gave her independence
To pull into the lot
And pull her heavy work clothes on
She liked the rush and clatter
She liked her new friends
And her favourite was a man named John
John was like a brother working at her side
And they both came on the job the same day
Learned the job together
How the ropes were tied
Went together down to draw their first pay
Opened up his packet Johnny dropped his cash
Money was all over the floor
Mary saw the money
Saw to her surprise
Johnny had a whole lot more
And she said
“Who's been matching you sweat for sweat
Who's been working on the line
Who's been earning what she ain't got yet
All I want is what's mine
I've got eyes and hands and a back like yours
And I use 'em hard the whole day
I stand here working just as hard as you do
And I want my equal pay”
Johnny was a good man and Mary knew that
Taught to think of women as queens
Now here stood Mary in a yellow hard hat
And her broken down faded blue jeans
He liked her more than anybody he knew
When he was close to understanding why
She didn't cuss or spit
She didn't raise her voice
She just looked him straight in the eye
And she said
“Who's been matching you sweat for sweat
Who's been working on the line
Who's been earning what she ain't got yet
All I want is what's mine
I've got eyes and hands and a back like yours
And I use 'em hard the whole day
I stand here working just as hard as you do
And I want my equal pay
And I want my E. R. A.”