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- Album This song officially appears on the Liverpool Oratorio Official album.
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Song facts
“When You Ask a Working Man” is the sixth track of the sixth movement – entitled “Work” – of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio, released in 1991.
V: WORK. Mary Dee’s office. She runs a hectic business staffed entirely by women. Mary Dee busies among the computers and fax machines, issuing orders as her girls lapse their concentration to fantasize of love. Meanwhile at Shanty’s office – where his rank does not match Mary Dee’s success – he is cajoled by colleagues to work less and play more. As one colleague, Mr. Dingle, tempts Shanty to slip off to the pub, at home Mary Dee indicates that she is pregnant.
“Liverpool Oratorio” liner notes
Last updated on July 11, 2019
Lyrics
MEN'S CHORUS
When you ask a working man,
'Does he ever stop?'
Will he make it to the top?
Should he take a break on Sunday?
Work until he drop.
SHANTY
My early days in school required
A lot of concentration
I was finding out.
But now in later years I find
My colleagues here are more inclined
To mess about.
My wife at home
Would surely never understand
If I so much as look at someone else
MEN'S CHORUS
If men had been the faithful sort
It surely would have changed the course
of history.
Don't ask me who the first man was
That dared to take a mistress,
It's a mystery.
Your wife at home
Would surely have to understand
If you were ever seen with someone else.
MR. DINGLE
Oh, no she won't!
MEN'S CHORUS
You wouldn't dare!
SHANTY
Oh, yes I would!
MR, DINGLE
Oh, no you don't!
MEN'S CHORUS
All things matrimonial
Carry with them certain responsibilities.
SHANTY and MR. DINGLE
(Ah)
Carry with them certain responsibilities.
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1991
1:34 • Live • L1
- Paul McCartney :
- Executive producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Additional engineer
- John Timperley :
- Balance engineer
- Carl Davis :
- Orchestra conductor
- Peter Mew :
- Additional engineer, Editor
- John Fraser :
- Producer
- Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra :
- Orchestra
- Nic Raine :
- Assistant to carl davis
- Martin Astle :
- Additional engineer
- Tom Leader :
- Additional engineer, Editor
- Ian Tracey :
- Chorus master and master of the choriste
- Jerry Hadley :
- Tenor
- Willard White :
- Bass
Concert From the concert in Liverpool, United Kingdom on Jun 28, 1991
Selections from Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio
Official album • Released in 1992
1:34 • Live • L1
- Paul McCartney :
- Executive producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Additional engineer
- John Timperley :
- Balance engineer
- Carl Davis :
- Orchestra conductor
- Peter Mew :
- Additional engineer, Editor
- John Fraser :
- Producer
- Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra :
- Orchestra
- Nic Raine :
- Assistant to carl davis
- Martin Astle :
- Additional engineer
- Tom Leader :
- Additional engineer, Editor
- Ian Tracey :
- Chorus master and master of the choriste
- Jerry Hadley :
- Tenor
- Willard White :
- Bass
Concert From the concert in Liverpool, United Kingdom on Jun 28, 1991
Live performances
“Work - When You Ask a Working Man” has been played in 2 concerts.
Latest concerts where Work - When You Ask a Working Man has been played
Liverpool • Liverpool Cathedral • United Kingdom
Jun 29, 1991 • Part of Liverpool Oratorio
Liverpool • Liverpool Cathedral • United Kingdom
Jun 28, 1991 • Part of Liverpool Oratorio
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