Layin' Pipe

David Wilcox · Other Songs - David Wilcox

My daddy worked construction

My brother too

He got me in the union

I'm payin' my dues



Oh but the woman I love

Has expensive taste

She's never satisfied

The latest things

A diamond ring

A car with an ultra-glide



I work so hard

Payin' for all that stuff

Eight shifts a week

It's never enough



I'm layin' pipe all night long

Layin' pipe

I'm workin' so hard

I'm layin' pipe

All night long

Layin' pipe

To satisfy that woman



I don't mind working

If the money's okay

I take the night shift

I sleep all day



Dust and mud is in my blood

Underground cable in my way

I punch a clock and start my rig

Don't know how deep I might have to dig



I wish I had a million dollars

To buy her everything she needs

She'd only come back for more and more and more and

more and more and more and more



I'm layin' pipe

All night long

Layin' pipe

I'm working so hard

I'm layin' pipe

All night long

Layin' pipe

To satisfy that woman



I put the pipe in

I pull it out again

My back is so sore

I can't work much more

I can't get my traction

The ground's too wet

I take a ten minute break

Ah smoke a cigarette

I don't mind the night shift

The cool breeze when the sun goes down

Winter time the ground is hard

Take twice as long to drill down



I'm layin' pipe

All night long

Layin' pipe

I'm working so hard

I'm layin' pipe

All night long

Layin' pipe

To satisfy that woman

Layin' Pipe

David Wilcox's 'Layin' Pipe' stands as a defining track from his 1989 debut album, 'How Did You Find Me Here.' Released during the height of the Australian folk-rock revival, the song captures the raw energy and introspective storytelling that characterized Wilcox's early career. With its driving rhythm and characteristic vocal delivery, the recording exemplifies the genre's blend of acoustic instrumentation and emotional depth. The track remains a staple of his discography, often cited alongside other seminal works like 'Bad Apple' and 'Fire In My Bones' as a prime example of the era's independent spirit. It reflects a period where Wilcox was establishing his signature style, moving beyond simple pop structures to explore more complex narratives within the folk-rock framework.