Discover the story of the song > What a Waste – Ian Dury

The lyrics are about the different things the protagonist could be, like a driver, poet, teacher, or sergeant. However, he feels like he's wasting his potential. He chose to be in a band, have one-night stands, and play rock 'n' roll, but deep down he knows he could have done more with his life. The chorus repeats that it's a waste, but the protagonist still enjoys playing music.