Text of track 14 of disc "Dorothy Hart and her fellow women soloists"

The words of Jenny's song

THE LIFT
by Donald Swann
Words by John Befjeman.

In uniform behold me stand
The lovely lift at my command.
I press the button. Pop.
And down I go below the town.
The walls rise up as I go down
And in the basement stop.
For weeks I've worked a morning shift
On this old Waygood Otis lift
And goodness, don't I love
To press the knob that shuts the gate
When customers are shouting 'Wait!'
And soar to floors above.
I see them from my iron cage
Their faces looking up in rage
And then I call 'First floor!
Perfume and ladies underwear!
No, sir—Up only. Use the stair'
And up again we soar.
The second floor for kiddie goods
And kiddie-pantz and pixie-hoods
And third floor Restaurant
And here the people always try
To find one going down, so I
Am not the lift they want.
On the roof-garden floor alone
1 wait for ages on my own
High, high above the crowds
0 let them rage and let them ring
For I am out of everything
Alone among the clouds.

This is an image from the original programme

Here is what Sheila Braggins had to say about track 14 from her book -

"Alfred Wolfsohn, The Diary of Events 1896 - 1962"

"On 13th November 1956 Jenny performed 'The Lift', a song composed by Donald Swann, at 'The Hofnung Music Festival Concert' at the Festival Hall. After the festival a record was made of the performances, but unfortunately Jenny was omitted from it as Awe advised her to ask for a fee or to refuse to have her song used. There was no money available for any of the artists' fees. I feel this may have been a great mistake on his part, as it would have brought more publicity and raised Jenny's profile. We shall never know what a difference it might have made. However, there was a very complimentary article about her in the December issue of The Gramophone".