Listen again, Joe, to the version I sing. The "women" kitchen assignment always rubbed me a bit the wrong way, so I usually sing "people" again there, even though it repeats the opening line of the first verse. Did I decide to sing it as Ken wrote it when I recorded it? If I did, I'm sorry. I've always noticed that men friends can offer nourishing meals and sympathetic hearts, too.

As for the "others" verse: I believe it was a mutual effort by Bob Zentz and Gordon Bok, ribbing Ken a bit. I think I remember them singing it for him at Old Songs, years ago. However they euphemized with "screwed up my life," eschewing the F word the Berrymans warn us about.

The one verse I failed to record, and wish I had, is the "back steps and stages, for hugs and for wages," which was added by Joan Sprung. Ken Hicks loves that one.

Sandy