The Clock Was Tickin'

Teacher had you write a letter, you were eight-years-old

About the man that you'd become and the positions you'd hold

But this was long before you and Jackie Geronimo

Met in the Prelude Park at midnight

Now, when it came to bells and whistles, Jackie did not lack

When she kissed on the kisser, boy, you kissed her back

Now you tell her that you love her and she cuts you slack

When you drink with your buddies on the weekend

And the weeks fly by, and the years roll on

You spend your whole life dropping nickels in the bucket

Waking up at dawn

While Jackie bestowed the joys of finger licking

The clock upon the wall was tickin'

You got yourself a job cleaning hospital floors

But Jackie had a baby, and she had five more

They pay you just enough to drag your ass to the store

To buy bread, milk and Better Homes and Gardens

Jackie flips the pages and she dreams little dreams

A cottage in the country, built with real wood beams

There's a baby in the bedroom, he's starting to scream

She holds him, though he probably won't remember

And the weeks fly by, and the years roll on

Sometimes, dreams are all you've got

To keep you going when the day gets long

And you gave up so many just to make a living

That clock upon the wall was tickin'

Now, the kids were all grateful when they left the nest

And Jackie wasn't perfect, but she did her best

You seized the opportunity to get you some rest

But you can't sleep on the count of screaming grandkids

The golden years are meant to leave a gleam in your eye

You're starting to discover it's a great big lie

They work you like a dog till you quit or you die

But you can't quit, 'cause Jackie needs the benefits

And the weeks fly by, and the years roll on

They say patience is a virtue, but the doctor says

She don't have long

And you stood up and tried your damn just not to listen

But that clock upon the wall was tickin'

When they told you to clear the room, that's when it hit you

You watched as a caravan took your sweetheart away

The arguments and fights and money troubles seemed so worthless

As the kids throw yellow roses on her grave

And the weeks fly by, and the years roll on

House is quiet now, everything inside

Seems to know she's gone

There's a picture of you both sixteen-years-old kissing

And that clock upon the wall was tickin'

You always thought you'd had a chance

But it was somewhere hid

Now, you come to the conclusion

That you never did

(Have a chance, now)