What will you be building when you have to go
That is the only thing that I need to know
What slip of the hard hand will close the big show
And what will you be building when you have to go

And there's very few reasons poor people have found
To grow any older is to run with the hounds
And hounds and poor people make money go round
And money makes favours and fevers and clowns

I'll write my name on a big piece of paper
I'll write down my secrets, I'll get me an acre
I'll build me a fortune and pay for a saviour
And I'll empty my pockets at last for my maker

What will you be building when you have to go
That is the only thing that I need to know
What slip of the hard hand will close the big show
What will you be building when you have to go
And what will you be building when you have to go