Will you still be Johnny’s wife, Johnny’s wife
In a year or two?
Will you still be Johnny’s wife, Johnny’s wife
Now you’re well to do?
Has a thoughtless word or two, word or two
Slowly done for you?
Has that careless “boss’s wife, boss’s wife”
Surely grown on you?
Tell me, will you let your hair, let your hair
Ever stray at all?
Will your children in the mud, in the mud
Happy play at all?
Do you feel a cut above, cut above
All the other mums?
Do you somehow feel you can, feel you can
Throw them careless crumbs?
You were kind because you loved, for you lived
Once in summer time;
And your home was full of peace, full of peace
Once in winter time.
When you’re lady bountiful, bountiful,
Will your care go deep?
Will it hide a heart that counts, heart that counts
Others very cheap?
Will you sneer at dusty shelves, dusty shelves,
Children’s crumpled frocks
And not see that kisses thick, kisses thick
Crowd their pauper locks?
Will you mark the grubby hands, grubby hands,
Not the hands in prayer?
Will you never turn around, turn around
In a sweat of fear?
High and mighty boss’s wife, boss’s wife,
Who’d be wed to you;
For you won’t be Johnny’s wife, Johnny’s wife
In a year or two.
Poor Johnny; he’ll be your status symbol.
(1971)
