# Dues songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 26, 2007, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266 "2007-12-26T05:50:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/1 "2007-12-26T05:50:57Z")
Or, the songs where rock n’ roll bands go on about the joys, sorrows, trials and tribulations of their performing/recording lives. I’ve never been too fond of this genre, as the performers tend to come off as self-indulgent, whiny, boastful or sometimes all three. My pick for all-time worst dues song is Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s _Takin’ Care Of Business_, in which the lead singer sneers about all the poor saps struggling to commute to their 9-to-5 jobs, while the band lays around, parties and does no work at all. Which, given the quality of BTO’s music, we can readily believe. Also loathsome is Grand Funk Railroad’s _We’re An American Band_, which celebrates property destruction and groupies, and contains possibly the worst line in all of rock and roll, namely: _The hotel detective he was out of sight!_ Honorable mention goes to Bob Seger’s _Turn The Page_, wherein he labors mightily traveling around and performing, only to have yahoos make fun of his long hair when he goes out in public. Poor, poor Bob. Actually there are a few pretty good dues songs. I like the Who’s _Long Live Rock_ even though the lyrics are not awe-inspiring: _We were the first band to vomit in the bar And find the distance to the stage too far_ Also decent are _All The Way From Memphis_ by Mott the Hoople and _Smoke On The Water_ by Deep Purple, in which they didn’t actually destroy anything but got to watch someone else do it. There is a sub-genre of OK dues songs where the artists sing about fictional performers who discover the negative side of their lives (or are about to). In this category is _Duchess_ by Genesis and Tom Petty’s “Into The Great Wide Open”. Finally there’s my favorite dues song, _Get A Haircut And Get A Real Job_, George Thorogood’s rocker about all the people who put him down and how he gets the last laugh, especially on his righteous big brother Bob. Other good and rotten dues songs I missed? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/2 "2007-12-26T06:54:01Z")
“Cover of the Rolling Stone” by Doctor Hook comes to mind. The song actually landed them on the Rolling Stone cover. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/3 "2007-12-26T07:02:58Z")
Lodi – Creedence Clearwater Revival Don’t ask me no questions – Lynard Skynard. Buncha’ whiners. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/4 "2007-12-26T09:17:03Z")
AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top If You Wanna Rock n’ Roll” A number of cuts off of David Bowie’s “Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust” album. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/5 "2007-12-26T10:24:52Z")
Billy Bragg’s \*Waiting For The Great Leap Forward \*surely qualifies, and is excellent. Also, Bauhaus’ _Spirit_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Seventh\_Deadly\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6bbea6/32.png) [@The\_Seventh\_Deadly\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Seventh_Deadly_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/6 "2007-12-26T10:35:45Z")
I was always a little put off by Jackson Browne’s “The Load-Out,” which begins: \*Now the seats Are all empty And the roadies take the stage Packin’ up and tearin’ down They’re the first to come And the last to leave Workin’ for that minimum wage…\* If he’s so touched by their plight, why doesn’t he give them a raise? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/7 "2007-12-26T13:43:00Z")
[QUOTE=thetruewheel] If he’s so touched by their plight, why doesn’t he give them a raise? [/QUOTE] My thoughts too. I like Jackson Browne quite a bit, but I hate that song. I do like “Turn The Page”, though. I like the melancholy sound of it. Anyway, my contribution to the list: “Shooting Star” by Bad Company ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/8 "2007-12-26T13:50:06Z")
I’ll add “Homeward Bound” by Simon and Garfunkle. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/9 "2007-12-26T13:58:51Z")
**Boston** : _Rock & Roll Band_ ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/10 "2007-12-26T13:59:39Z")
I’ll echo the disdain for JB’s “The Load-Out”. It just drones on and on. Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar” was supposedly based on real events. Boston’s “Rock & Roll Band” was not. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/11 "2007-12-26T14:01:07Z")
The Byrds did _So You Want To Be A Rock And Roll Star_, which falls toward the self-indulgent/self-pitying part of the spectrum. Not a bad tune though. It was covered by various others including Patti Smith and Tom Petty. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/12 "2007-12-26T14:07:11Z")
Toby Keith’s “How do you like me now?” is a self-indulged piece of dreck. Foreigner’s “Jukebox Hero” is an obvious, “Wow this music making is really hard work” song. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/13 "2007-12-26T14:09:07Z")
I’ve always interpreted Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty” as a rock-star-life song. The road is rushing under the wheels of his tour bus, and he doesn’t “know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels.” “This life” could be a number of things, but that’s my take. If you put it in the genre, maybe it makes up for “The Load-Out”. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/14 "2007-12-26T14:20:53Z")
Kinks - Life on the Road ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/15 "2007-12-26T14:27:53Z")
Bon Jovi-= Wanted Dead or Alive ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/16 "2007-12-26T15:58:32Z")
“Come Monday” by Jimmy Buffet is kind of nice - talks about how he’s looking forward to seeing his chick when he gets home from touring. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/17 "2007-12-26T16:29:38Z")
“Honky Tonk Music,” written by George Hawke, performed by both Hoyt Axton and Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen: Every night I work the places Neon lights and lonely faces People laugh and drink away the evening while I play I ask myself why do I do it I guess there must be something to it Getting paid for doing something I’d be doing anyway ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/18 "2007-12-26T16:46:13Z")
I am embarassed to say that I like “Rock Star” by Nickelback, but if you take it as tongue-in-cheek, which the amazing [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76i6aZgo2io) seems to reinforce, it is actually quite listenable. BUT, the best all-time “dues” song is the absolutely spectacular [“Wasted Rock Ranger” by Great White.](http://www.lyricsdownload.com/great-white-wasted-rock-ranger-lyrics.html) Excerpt: > [@](#): > > Well I could have had a payin’ job > Workin’ for some fucked-up slob > Wife and family, true security > But I left that shit behind > For that heavy metal grind > 'Cause rock’n roll is in my blood to stay > (among other things) > > Hey! You’re a wasted rock ranger > You’ll live life of danger > Sing this song and follow it till the end > When you reach number one > You can overdose for fun > And go and visit Jimi and his friends ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/19 "2007-12-26T17:04:07Z")
I always think Turn The Page is whiny. Waaaa waaaa, I’m a rock star. I was gonna quote some lyrics to comment on, but found these and was terribly amused, so I’ll post them instead: > [@](#): > > Most times you cant hear em talk, other times you can. > Oh the same old cliche, as that woman on her a man > You always see my number, you dont dare make a stand. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266/20 "2007-12-26T17:16:58Z")
[QUOTE=Khadaji] I always think Turn The Page is whiny. Waaaa waaaa, I’m a rock star. I was gonna quote some lyrics to comment on, but found these and was terribly amused, so I’ll post them instead: > [@](#): > > Most times you cant hear em talk, other times you can. > Oh the same old cliche, **as that woman on her a man** > You always see **my number** , you dont dare make a stand. [/QUOTE] My bold. I always heard it as “is that a woman or a man / you always seem outnumbered”. Either way, it’s not great poetry, but I don’t mind the whining. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dues-songs/431266.md?page=2)