Mister D: I’m heading off to Vancouver Thursday so this video is going up a little early. Thanks Katrin for doing this for me. I’ll be in Vancouver from the 4th -8th to visit and give support to a friend – Cris – she’s from Brazil. All she wants is to be able to go see Bette Midler in Las Vegas – please send positive vibes that she gets her visa. I know you ladies and germs can pull this off.
Bette Midler sings the awesome song, “Millworker,” from her Thighs and Whispers album on the Parkinson Show in 1979.
For more Bette Midler videos check out the “BootTube Betty” section on bootlegbetty.com
Don’t forget to rate and please leave a comment!!!
written by James Taylor
performed by Bette Midler
Now my grandfather was a sailor.
He blew in off the water.
My father was a farmer
and I his only daughter.
Took up with a no good
millworking man from Massachusetts
who died from too much whiskey
and leaves me these three faces to feed.
Millwork ain’t easy, millwork ain’t hard.
Millwork, it ain’t nothin’
but an awful, boring job.
I’m waiting for a daydream
to take me through the mornin’;
Put me in my coffee break
where I can have a sandwhich and remember.
And it’s me and my machine
for the rest of the mornin’,
for the rest of the afternoon,
for the rest of my life.
Now my mind begins to wander
to the days back on the farm.
I can see my father smilin’
and me swingin’ on his arm.
I can hear my granddad’s stories
of the storms out on Lake Erie,
where vessels and cargos
and fortunes and sailor’s lives were lost.
Yeah, but it’s my life that’s been wasted.
And I have been the fool
to let this manufacture
use my body for a tool.
As I ride home in the evenin’
I’m staring at my hands,
swearin’ by my sorrow
that a young girl ought to stand a better chance.
Oh, but may I work the mills
just as long as I’m able,
and never meet the man
who’s name is on the label.
Whoa, it’s me and my machine
for the rest of the mornin’,
for the rest of the afternoon,
for the rest of my life . . . wasted.
this is one of my favorite albums and one of my favorite songs EVER… LOOOOOVE it!!!
OMG! LOL! “All she wants is to see Bette perform”… This is too funny…:-P Vancouver is lovely, you`ll love it…:-)
fantastic video, bette is just amazing singing live, so much passion and honesty in her voice. anyone heard if she’ll be coming over to do any tv spots in the uk? i’ve been looking and asking but not heard a thing!
i’m so glad you posted the lyrics! i’d always just kind of passed over this song. it’s so sad! now that i know what it’s about i like it so much more!
I’ll ask again….
One of my favorites for sure. It’s like opening a new present everytime I watch a video of hers I hadn’t seen before. Sharing these gems is an amazing gesture and I thank you.
How fabulous is that dress? My gosh…I want one! lol
Me TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ll have my BFF Jenny that made our Sanderson Sisters costumes make us each one. LOL