Jonathan Richman
When I Say Wife
[Verse 1]
When I say "wife," it's 'cause I can't find another word
For the way we be
But "wife" sounds like your mortgage
And "wife" sounds like laundry

[Verse 2]
When I say "wife," it's 'cause I can't find another word
For the way we are
But "wife" sounds like your mortgage
It sounds like the family car

[Chorus]
Well, the tax form comes and I fill out "married"
'Cause I know what they're lookin' for
But I'm tellin' you that I'm just a person
Same as I was before

[Verse 3]
When I say "wife," it's 'cause if you said "lover" every day
You're gonna begin to gag
But wife sounds like your mortgage
Sounds like the laundry bag

[Chorus]
Well, the tax form comes, fill out "married"
A technicality
But I'm tellin' you that I'm not married
I'm not single, I'm still me
[Verse 4]
I say "wife" because it stops all talk right away
About the way we be
But "wife" sounds like your mortgage
And "wife" sounds like laundry