It’s Labor Day weekend… well at least for me who doesn’t work on Friday’s. I thought I would post some great work related songs for Labor Day. Happy Labor Day!
Take This Job and Shove It. -Johnny Paycheck
David Allan Coe wrote this work song, but sold it when he needed money to pay IRS debts.
Taking Care of Business -Bachman Turner Overdrive
Randy Bachman had sung what would later become “Takin’ Care of Business” while still a member of The Guess Who. His original idea was to write about a recording technician who worked on The Guess Who’s recordings. This particular technician would take the 8:15 train to get to work, inspiring the lyrics “take the 8:15 into the city.” The standard uniform worn by technicians at the studio was a white collared shirt, which gave Randy the name “White Collar Worker.”
The first guitar riff Randy had arranged for the song was similar to that of The Beatles’ “Paperback Writer.” When Randy first played this for Burton Cummings, Burton declared that he was ashamed of him and that The Guess Who would never record the song. Source:Wikipedia
Five O’clock World -The Vogues
This song reminds me of when I was young riding in the car with the family.
Working Man -Rush
This is the song that made Rush explode into stardom. Rush had limited local popularity until the album was picked up by WMMS, a radio station in Cleveland, Ohio. Donna Halper, a DJ and music director working at the station, selected “Working Man” for her regular play list. The song’s blue collar theme resonated with hard rock fans and this new found popularity led to the album being re-released by Mercury Records in the U.S. Source:Wikipedia
Working Class Hero -John Lennon
There’s room at the top they are telling you still,
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill,
Salt of the Earth -The Rolling Stones
One of the great lines..
“Raise your glass to the hard-working people
Let’s drink to the uncounted heads
Let’s think of the wavering millions
Who need leaders but get gamblers instead”
Working for MCA -Lynard Skynyrd
7 Years of hard luck coming down on me
Chain Gang “ Sam Cooke
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) -Styx
Closet Confession¦ I am a huge Tommy Shaw fan. The dude can play. Warning the video is cheesy.
Working For The Weekend -Loverboy
Honesty in music¦
Nine to Five -Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton received an Oscar nomination for writing this work song to accompany her 1980 acting debut in the movie 9 to 5 and with over 3 million views it can’t be wrong.
