Lyr Req: Secretaries

Subject: Searching 'secretaries lament'
From:
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 01:01 AM

Help! I heard this song on the CBC a few years ago. I THOUGHT is was called The Secretaries' Lament, but I'm not sure. I think it's a cappella, male voices, with a line at the end of the refrain that goes ....."What if the secretaries demand what they are worth" or something like that. Who's it by? What's it really called?

Subject: RE: Help: Searching 'secretaries lament'
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 02:19 PM

Could this be a Janet Russell song; she wrote something on that theme.

Subject: Lyr Add: SECRETARIES
From:
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 03:54 PM

Did a quick check on the internet and this is from http://www.unison-sw.org.uk/womensog.htm

Betty Underwood of the Central Bristol health Branch, attending her last South West Regional Council as a delegate, said her farewell's by singing the following song:

SECRETARIES

Well, I don't know what to make of it, just where it all began
I haven't been so mortified since early 1910
I have heard of war and famine but things got really hard
When the ladies at my office got hold of Union cards

CHORUS
Whatever will we do, whatever on this earth,
When all the secretaries demand what they are worth

My girl, she runs the office, you know that's what girls do
She does her job, yes, very well - and most of my job too
But it's certainly outrageous and completely out of line
When she demands a salary commensurate with mine
CHORUS

My secretary tallies up the things that I must do
She keeps a list of all my friends so I'll know who is who
My Lord, if she should leave me - oh, how would I survive?
I haven't made a phone call since 1945
CHORUS

Well, there's rumours of a walkout, there's rumours of a strike
Rumours of a picket, a slow-down and the like
But I've got my survival plan in case of any strife
Here's how I'll get the job done - I'll give it to my wife
CHORUS

Well I've had about enough of this, I just can't comprehend
Whoever do they think they are to organize like men?
You know I believe in order, the tried and trusted norm
I'll damn well see them fired if I can only find the form

CHORUS
Whatever will we do, whatever on this earth,
When all the secretaries demand what WE are worth