Business Casual — A confident illustrated office worker in cowboy boots crosses a Merced street where glass towers dissolve into orchards and fields

Business Casual

The songbook

Words by Douglas Heyes Jr. Listen to the recorded versions and follow the lyric below.

Original Doug Heyes lyrics · AI-generated music & vocals

They put a velvet rope around the evening and dressed everybody like the cameras were coming. I went in for the spectacle. By morning, the beautiful promises were looking a little rumpled, and I still had a night of playing ahead. Funny what we call casual when keeping up costs so much.

Listen

Recorded versions

3 recordings. Different voices and arrangements bring another side of the song into the light.

Lyrics

Business Casual

Words by Douglas Heyes Jr

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BUSINESS CASUAL:

I got an invitation
Down to some hotel downtown
I could tell by the perfume smell
Somethin’ good was comin’ down
Calligraphy engraved upon
A linen envelope
Take a little step beyond
Come behind the velvet rope

There you’ll see the hangers on
The playas full of hope
This party’s already gone
To M.C. D.J. Dope
Cuervo and Dom Perignon
Red carpet, scarlet chiffon
Limo driver all night long
My wallet is already gone

They call it Business Casual
I’m sure to come in late
Gold and glitter on my arm
My primetime Tinder date
You know this ain’t the usual
Pick you up at 8
This party’s Business Casual
We’re gonna make ‘em wait

Check us out on our way in
Catwalk turn, look back again
Papparazzi, find the lens
Flash a smile, do that again
3 grand from my ankles down
Ten K on my wrist
Flashing lights all over town
I just raise my fist

Middle finger in the air
Downtown furies everywhere
Aliens will stop and stare
Then gone like they were never there
You’re just holding onto me
Flashin’ V for Victory
Isis,mu Egyptian Cat
Let me show you where it’s at

They call it Business Casual
Supremely intellectual
Quite overtly sexual
Royalties, residuals
Could you be more special
You don’t even have to try
Your eyes sparkle like emeralds
When it’s your time to fly

Sorry, this will all be gone
When you open your eyes
Pack it up and move along
When it’s time for our goodbyes
Let’s keep ‘em simple, sad and sweet
In the open, on the street
Maybe we will meet again
No more lovers, only friends

For now, it is my time to go
Time to start another show
Crowd is waitin’; red light’s on
Love is just another song
I don’t know where we went wrong
I’ll be playin’ all night long
Where Love is an intangible
We’ll call it Business Casual