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Oh, my mother was frightened by a blackboard, they say,
That's why I have decided to teach;
But the salary they pay us doesn't last us one day,
And the beans through the week they don't reach.
I keep getting thinner, I can't afford a dinner,
Just a hot dog and ice-cold Coke;
I can't spare a calorie, I don't get enough salary,
Oh, you can't teach a class when you're broke.
A girl making money, a man will call her honey,
And she's married in just one stroke;
But you'll never be mated, if you are underrated,
Oh, you can't teach a class when you're broke.
When you're bro-oke, when you're bro-oke,
Oh, you can't teach a class when you're broke.
If I went to Eaton's, a-selling Christmas greetings,
I'd make hundreds in just one stroke;
But if I take up teaching, the government starts leaching,
Oh, you can't run a school when someone's lunch makes you drool,
Oh, you can't teach a class when you're broke.
I never did think once I'd educate delinquents,
That belong to some other folk,
And not make as much as a stevedore on crutches,
Oh, you can't teach a class when you're broke.
The government station wants all free education,
And diplomas for every bloke;
But someday our bastards will show those silly bums,
That you can't teach a class when you're broke.
When you're bro-oke, when you're bro-oke,
Oh, you can't teach a class when you're broke.
The whole bloody island just lives it up in style
And buys a car and a new mink coat;
But the Newfoundland teacher is God's forgotten creature,
Oh, you can't make a grade when your rent goes unpaid;
Oh, you can't teach a class when you're broke.
Oh, you can't teach a class when you're broke.
