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This song was recorded during a live performance. Paige is accompanied by Wade Moroughan.
Are You Doing Anything?
(Live at the Lighthouse)
words and music by Paige Powell ©2007 Paige E. Powell
1. She awoke, scorning
and grieved at the morning
Of another work day
Educated and trained,
obligated and chained
To her small weekly pay
Her superior grants her
a qualified answer
Then, pauses to say,
“Should I leave it to you?
Are you doing anything?”
And he leaves it to her:
"Are you doing anything?"
2. The phone is defeating
the girl who is eating
Her blue fingernails
The procedure is old:
they put her on hold
She thinks, “They’re fast as snails!”
They return to her voice
and they give her no choice
But to see how the system fails
And he leaves it to her—
“Are you doing anything?”
And he leaves it to you—
“Are you doing anything?”
And he leaves it to you,
You.... You...
Bridge: Back on the back porch pickin’
In my old blue jeans
Natural the garden growin’
What God's good blessings bring
3. Three years in the act
she awakes to the fact
That she is dead
Comes home dead at night
And you know she’s dead right
Sayin’, “I’m not getting ahead!”
Her desk’s rearranged
and her position has changed
But her time has been bled
And he leaves it to her—
“Are you doing anything?”
And he leaves it to you—
“Are you doing anything?”
And he leaves it to you...
From the September 28, 2021 Blog:
The Story Behind the Song,
"Are You Doing Anything?"
Being young has benefits, but one that is not so great is having a dead-end job, a "getting started" job where you are bored, frustrated or just under-employed. It happens more often to our youth, who are trying to find their place in this world. Like anyone else, a young person wants a career, not just a job, where they can use their skills in a meaningful way and earn a living.
I was under-employed when I was young. I hated it and felt trapped. I wrote "Are You Doing Anything" about those feelings and a woman who "grieved at the morning of another work day". Her "superior," meaning a boss, often asks her "Are you doing anything?" which frustrates her. It's also a question for the listener ("And he leaves it to you") to perhaps do some self-examination. I ask myself that question often.
In the center of the song, there's a bridge, a little island of peace where "Natural, the garden growing what God's good blessings bring". It's a "back to nature" scene of a better life.
The song concludes with "Her desk’s rearranged and her position has changed, but her time has been bled" and that's the true loss. If life is made of time, it's a terrible thing to waste, but even worse to have it taken away from you for a meager paycheck, doing work you hate.
You, dear reader, may have job you love because you are appreciated and have great relationships at work. So, this song is not for you, but I'll bet you know someone who HATES their job. That is almost like being in prison (except you open your own doors and don't have meals prepared for you).
"Are You Doing Anything" was recorded at a LIVE performance with high-school guitar buddy, Wade Moroughan, playing lead acoustic guitar and singing.
Did you know I have a Facebook group called "Paige Powell's Fans"? Click on this link to see it and join (you have to be on Facebook to join). I post my progress as a songwriter often. I'm STILL working on my Music Video "The Clock" and I'm working on a song with 2 male songwriters I met through SongTown. And the best news is that my song, "Waterfall" is being mastered and I'll be releasing it soon!
