What do I do with all the children's clothes? Such tiny things that still smell of them And the footprints in the hallway On to my knees, scrub them away ♪ And how to be of use? Make the tea and the soup All of their favourites, throw them away And all their school books, and their running shoes Washing them clean in the dirty steel sink ♪ Routine keeps me in line Helps me pass the time Concentrates my mind Helps me to sleep And keep making beds, and keep the cat fed Open the windows, let the air in And keep the house clean, and keep the routine Paintings they made still stuck to the fridge ♪ Keep cleaning, keep ironing Cooking their meals on the stainless steel hob Keep washing, keep scrubbing Long until the dark comes to bruise the sky Deep in debt to night ♪ Routine keeps me in line Helps me pass the time Helps me to sleep Routine keeps me in line Helps me pass the time-ime-ime Helps me to sleep ♪ The most beautiful morning forever Like the ones from far off, far off away With the hum of the bees in the jasmine sway Don't ever let go, try to let go And don't ever let go, try to let go Don't ever