Work Makes Free Anaïs Mitchell

[Verse 1]
The bedroom window view of chestnuts says it's morning
It's still dark and it's snowing
The floor is cold and the bed is warm
It's almost time I was going, going
I put my wet boots on and walk on down
To the diner at the edge of Chinatown
And the guys in hardhats will come in out of the cold
And they want some coffee, they want something warm to hold

[Verse 2]
Old Man Peter says he's ready to retire
As he's taking off his yellow hat
Hasn't had a sick day since the day that he was hired
And it's like he prides himself on that
He's through with nursing children and unruly dreams, yeah
He nurses bottles now and wounds and other things
Now could somebody take this weight off of my head?
'Cause if I was not awake, oh, I would just stay in bed, oh, yeah

[Verse 3]
I'm gonna quit this job 'cause I get nervous
When I start to feel obliged
I'm gonna quit my job 'cause Peter never did
And I don't think he ever tried, oh no
Too many hours of overtime
Too many scratch-offs of the ones that didn't win
Too many prostitutes and destitutes
Just waiting to get back in the black again, again
But what if when we're born
They lock the gate and toss the key, ah
Behind the sign that says that "Work makes free"?
And all I can say is that I pray that is not me
Not me, not me, not me, not me