Secretary

Song Meaning

The narrator fixates on a woman working at a typewriter, framing her actions through a lens of idealized "impulse and delight." He sees her "whole world at her fingertips" as she types, a powerful image of control and potential that he immediately contrasts with his own passive desire. The initial verses establish a scene of observation, where the narrator projects his fantasies onto her professional demeanor, seeing her as a figure of both competence and allure. The central tension arises from the narrator's unrequited attention versus the secretary's apparent obliviousness. He sees her "in-tray's full up" and "out-tray's empty," a metaphor for her busy professional life, yet he declares "the only thing that's pending is me." This highlights his feeling of being overlooked, a persistent but unacknowledged presence. Her focus is on her work, symbolized by the typewriter keys, while he longs for her attention, a desire that remains unmet. The lyrics cleverly use the secretary's work environment to underscore the narrator's isolation. Her physical actions – hair falling, pushing it back, crossing knees, straightening her back – are observed minutely, yet she "don't notice me." This repetition emphasizes his invisibility. The mundane details of her workday, like lighting a cigarette and drinking coffee, become charged with his longing because they occur without any acknowledgment of his presence, making his plea to "come and be my secretary" feel both hopeful and desperate. This song resonates because it captures the specific ache of wanting someone who is absorbed in their own world. The narrator's detailed observation of the secretary's routine, juxtaposed with his own unmet needs, creates a poignant portrait of unrequited affection. The contrast between her busy professional life and his singular focus on her makes his repeated chorus, "We can have a lot of fun," a plea that feels both earnest and tragically out of reach.