This work, composed in 1917, dates from Satie's late period, when he was 51 years old. Around this time, Satie was also engaged in composing ballet music and stage works, following his encounter with the poet Jean Cocteau. Young composers came to admire Satie's unique and innovative music, gathering around him. However, he disliked being revered as the head of a 'Satie school' and encouraged them to create their own music.

This work is structured in three movements. It includes bar lines and is assigned a tonality. The first movement is in 4/4 time, the second in 9/8 time, and the third in 3/8 time. The work is accompanied by a poem, which possesses an indescribably comedic and unique tone. While it describes a salaried office worker, Satie's characteristic irony is subtly present in the poem's expression. If one were to play the first four measures, any piano student would likely recognize a familiar rhythm. Remarkably, this piece employs a parody of Muzio Clementi (1752–1832)'s Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36, No. 1. Satie himself wrote in the poem for the third movement, "The piano next door is playing Clementi."