[Lyric] Cleanin Women (Working: A Musical (Original London Cast))

Mama worked just like her mama before her
Domestic workin' was their trade
They was laundress, cook and live-in help
Thursday girl, babysitter, and hotel maid
They worked six days a week all day long
And never could get outta debt
Those were the days when the minimum wage
Was anything you could get

They was
Cleanin' women
Without faces

They was
Comin' and goin'
On a first name basis

You're talkin' to somebody who knows (Somebody who knows)
After too many years
I don't wanna be stuck in one more laundry room
I don't wanna pick up nary 'nother broom
One of these days
I just wanna sleep till noon
All day long I'm thinkin'
My kids' out in the street somewhere
But the folks up in their rooms
Don't think you're thinkin' half the time
Always talkin' round you
Like you ain't even there
It gettin' so it do somethin' to my mind (To my mind, oh lord!)

Got a daughter with a head on her shoulders
And pretty as a picture too
She ain't gonna hide that pretty face
Behind closed doors
Scrubbin' floors like her mama do
If my legs don't give out, and my back hold up
I'm gonna make her a better day
You'll never see her get down on her knees
Unless she's down there to pray

No more cleanin' women
Without faces (No, no!)
She's gonna walk in on a "miss last name" basis
She'll be the first in this family
To have a face you can see!

Lord, she ain't gon' be stuck inside no laundry room
And when she sweepin', she'll be pushin' her own broom
The day may never come
When she can sleep till noon but
Long as she can get up singin' her own tune
For me that day (Lord!)
For me that day
Can't come too soon! (Can't come too soon, too soon)
Lord! (That day, can't come, can't come)
Can't come, can't come too soon
No, no, no
That day
Can't come, can't come too soon!