Released in 1991
Written by Paul McCartney • Carl Davis
Last updated on July 11, 2019
Album This song officially appears on the Liverpool Oratorio Official album.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1991
“Working Women at the Top” is the second 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
WOMEN'S CHORUS (office staff)
Working women at the top,
Will it ever stop?
Papers piling up and up.
Days go by like Monday, Tuesday:
Work until we drop!
All the time looking great,
Running late,
In a state, losing weight,
Running late again
And again.
MARY DEE
Let me have the letter that you typed up
yesterday.
Did Mr. Fisher send the fax to LA?
Make sure the flowers don't arrive too late
And cancel my appointment at the Squash
Club.
WOMEN'S CHORUS
What club?
MARY DEE
Squash Club.
WOMEN'S CHORUS
Working women on the go,
Will they ever know
What it takes to run the show?
Days go by like lightning,
Will it ever slow?
Half the time feeling dead,
Over-fed,
Aching head,
Miss my bed.
Over-fed again
And again.
MARY DEE
Did they ever pick up the accountant's
resume?
Make sure the car arrives in time for the
plane.
Get me the details of the takeover bid
And write another letter to the Minister.
WOMEN'S CHORUS
Minister?
MARY DEE
The Minister of love.
WOMEN'S CHORUS
Love.
(La)
MARY DEE
Where's the time for standing still?
WOMEN'S CHORUS
Holding hands and walking free.
MARY DEE
Where's the time for you...
MARY DEE and WOMEN'S CHORUS
And me?
Official album • Released in 1991
2:52 • 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 Kiri Te Kanawa : Soprano Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra : Orchestra Malcolm Stewart : First violin (?) Nic Raine : Assistant to carl davis Martin Astle : Additional engineer Tom Leader : Additional engineer, Editor Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir : Choir Choristers of Liverpool Cathedral : Choir Ian Tracey : Chorus master and master of the choriste
Concert From the concert in Liverpool, United Kingdom on Jun 28, 1991
Selections from Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio
Official album • Released in 1992
2:41 • Live • L1a • Edit of the longer version (2:52) available on The Liverpool Oratorio
Paul McCartney : Executive producer Eddie Klein : Additional engineer John Timperley : Balance engineer Carl Davis : Orchestra conductor Peter Mew : Additional engineer, Editor John Fraser : Producer Kiri Te Kanawa : Soprano Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra : Orchestra Malcolm Stewart : First violin (?) Nic Raine : Assistant to carl davis Martin Astle : Additional engineer Tom Leader : Additional engineer, Editor Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir : Choir Choristers of Liverpool Cathedral : Choir Ian Tracey : Chorus master and master of the choriste
Concert From the concert in Liverpool, United Kingdom on Jun 28, 1991
“Work - Working Women at the Top” has been played in 6 concerts.
Jul 27, 2024 • Part of Liverpool Oratorio
Jul 21, 2024 • Part of Liverpool Oratorio
Jul 20, 2024 • Part of Liverpool Oratorio
Jul 18, 2024 • Part of Liverpool Oratorio
Liverpool • Liverpool Cathedral • United Kingdom
Jun 29, 1991 • Part of Liverpool Oratorio
See all concerts where “Work - Working Women at the Top” has been played
Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 2) 1990-2012
This new book by Luca Perasi traces Paul McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1990 to 2012 in the form of 250 song entries, filled with details about the recordings, stories behind the sessions and musical analysis. His pop albums, his forays into classical and avant-garde music, his penchant for covering old standards: a complete book to discover how these languages cross-pollinate and influence each other.
The second volume in a series that has established itself as a unique guide to take the reader on a journey into the astonishing creativity of Paul McCartney.
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