"Paid Time Off" lyrics

"Paid Time Off"

I called you
But I'd of run out of words
So I stared at the plastic
Collidin' with dirt
At the fast food
Sign out in Leb
I prepared for the warfare
With the voice in my head

And I thought it was strange
How the letters were placed
How the hiring sign
Seemed to laugh in my face

And if you were here, you'd make a joke of it
I'm alone, getting lost in the scope of it
And I see you drive in

And your love is like an open flame
I'm a running car, you're a closed garage
Someone once told us there's a world out there
But we don't care enough to drive that far
It's been a damn near perfect day
Just getting high at the outlet mall
Most people grow up and they move away
But you don't care and I don't mind at all

I got the car, you got the bag
A handwritten note left from mom and dad
Police scanner bouncing on the dash
Cup of burnt coffee and a check to cash

I had the brains for a city job
But you got the taste of a county cop
Pack of cigarettes and a round of golf
Make a livin' workin' for the paid time off

Such simple lines
They drew to make this place
In the interest of time
We got a whole lot to waste

And your love is like an open flame
I'm a running car, you're a closed garage
Someone once said there's a world out there
But we don't care enough to drive that far
It's been a damn near perfect day
Just getting high at the outlet mall
People grow and they move away
But you don't care and I don't mind at all
You don't care and I don't mind at all

I got the car, you got the bag
Handwritten note left from mom and dad
A police scanner bouncing on the dash
A cup of burnt coffee and a check to cash

I had the brains for a city job
But you got the taste of a county cop
Pack of cigarettes and a round of golf
Make a livin' workin' for the paid time off


Writer(s): Gabe Simon, Sam Westhoff, Carol Karpinen, Noah Kahan
Noah Kahan debuted "Paid Time Off" as the closing song during his appearance at NPR's Tiny Desk Concert on the 21st of April, 2026. He said of the tune, "one of my favorite songs [on the record]". The song was officially released on the 24th of April, 2026.
album: "The Great Divide" (2026)
Noah Kahan - The Great Divide album cover
Lighthouse
("The Last Of The Bugs" Bonus Track)
Staying Still
("The Last Of The Bugs" Bonus Track)
A Few Of Your Own
("The Last Of The Bugs" Bonus Track)
Orbiter
("The Last Of The Bugs" Bonus Track)
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