Dirt Gets Under the Fingernails

Now he was a man who worked with his hands

Only in a motor he found peace

He could make an engine sing like a bird

He could find his only kind of release

When he was up to his elbows in the greaseShe dreamed of a time for painting

As she was cleanin' up his stains from the rug

She'd play all day with their children

And try to meet him with a welcome and hug

As he came shufflin' through the house with a shrugI tell you dirt gets under the fingernails

And hate gets under the skin

But a dream got a way of gettin' down to the bone

And the heart of a body that it's inWhile he was makin' magic with his piston machines

She was cleanin' up the mess he'd left behind

She was tryin' to make it through to the end of the day

With a little empty time

And do the paintin' that meant peace of mindI tell you dirt gets under the fingernails

And hate gets under the skin

But a dream got a way of gettin' down to the bone

And the heart of a body that it's inWell one day she didn't bother 'bout makin' his bed

She hurried all the children out the door

And she let the bills and the marketing go

And she went and almost bought out an art supply storeIt just so happened that day he got to thinkin'

Of the grease that always covered up his skin

So he left the garage a little early

He got a shave and a manicure and trim

Came out clean as a plaster mannequinHe came home in a hurry

But he almost didn't recognize the place

It looked like it'd been hit by a hurricane

There was canvas fillin' every open space

And she had paint all over her faceI tell you dirt gets under the fingernails

And hate gets under the skin

But a dream got a way of gettin' down to the bone

And the heart of a body that it's inThey both stood stunned into silence

Then their laughter exploded like a shout

And he went out to make some magic in the kitchen

The clean man learnin' what cookin' was about

And the dirty girl paintin', her messy heart outI tell you dirt gets under the fingernails

And hate gets under the skin

But a dream got a way of gettin' down to the bone

And the heart of a body that it's in

Songwriters

CHAPIN, HARRY F.Published by

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.