Deadline
He's got a meeting at six-thirty, so he won't have time to stay
For dinner with his darling and his daughter on the way
He's fighting down the freeway, sewing up that dotted line
There's no time like the present and there's no present like time
The little one gets presents for a little consolation
He gives her her own telephone but not much conversation
She asks him for a moment like a beggar for a dime
There's no time like the present and there's no present like time
Model student in her high school, does her homework every night
Sends her mortarboard flying with her future looking bright
Hangs the tassel from the mirror of the present parked outside
There's no time like the present and there's no present like time
Now there's a husband and a daughter and a lot of bills to pay
Everyone needs something from her and they all need it today
But she can't be omnipresent when she's working overtime
There's no time like the present and there's no present like time
Then the phone rings late at the office
Coming in on the private line
It's her husband
It's her father
Seems he finally made his deadline
Now she's furiously packing for a little time away
She's got a week's vacation and she's gonna make it pay
Her husband's turning bitter and her daughter just turned nine
There's no time like the present and there's no present like time