# Occupations in Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 30, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901 "2020-04-30T15:19:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/21 "2020-04-30T18:26:31Z")
Missed edit window–Billy Joel is The Piano Man ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/22 "2020-04-30T18:26:34Z")
“The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” is about people unloading a boatload of bananas. [“The Ballad of Forty Dollars”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx5te3VkTtQ) is the observations of a graveyard employee. “Ballad of the Blue Cyclone” is about a wrestler and “The Haircut Song” is about barbers (both Ray Stevens). ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/23 "2020-04-30T18:35:30Z")
Tim Hardin - If I were a carpenter Lee Dorsey - Workin in a coalmine Sam Cooke - Chain gang [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PRyDlVOE86U/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC6AKKAgwIABABGGUgXShUMA8=&rs=AOn4CLB4UxYSqeyA_7IQfYjAlxVFULnTGw "Chain Gang - Sam Cooke") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRyDlVOE86U) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/24 "2020-04-30T18:36:15Z")
You are the Egg-man. I am the Walrus. Coo-Coo Ka Joob! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/25 "2020-04-30T18:38:12Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > First thing I thought of was “Wichita Lineman,” which is about… a lineman (for the county). Me, too. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/26 "2020-04-30T18:40:58Z")
“Penny Lane” has a barber, a banker, a nurse, and a fireman. “Eleanor Rigby” has a priest. Several of the songs in “Lola vs. Powerman and the Money-go-round” are about the business side of music. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/27 "2020-04-30T18:45:55Z")
[Drivin’ My Life Away](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tvEvBUG8mY) - Eddie Rabbit singing about being a long hauler [Six Days On The Road](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHbGhEfnh2E) - Dave Dudley, another truck driver tune [Operator](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RA4MykPm4s) - Jim Croce singing to a telephone operator [Working On The Highway](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QbReXuCR6U) - Bruce Springsteen as a road paver [Dark As A Dungeon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsfzCZCFP0Q) - Johnny Cash as a mine worker ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/28 "2020-04-30T18:48:56Z")
“Code Monkey” by Jonathan Coulton, about a junior level programmer. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/29 "2020-04-30T18:54:02Z")
Roland was a _Thompson Gunner_ (headless). Warren Zevon has several: _The Envoy_ _Boom Boom Mancini_ (was a boxer) _Frank and Jesse James_ (were outlaws) And, of course, _Werewolves of London_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/30 "2020-04-30T19:16:13Z")
Several by Fountains of Wayne: Bright Future In Sales California Sex Lawyer Karpet King (carpet installer) Halley’s Waitress Comedienne Someone to Love (lawyer, photo retoucher) Yolanda Hayes (DMV clerk) Traffic and Weather (TV anchors) Richie and Ruben (bar owners) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/31 "2020-04-30T19:34:30Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Killing Me Softly Roberta Flack > [@madsircool](#): > > Im reluctant to post this Dr Demento classic but here goes > > NSFW > > [spoiler][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJNV4FMpGh8[/spoiler]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJNV4FMpGh8%5B/spoiler%5D) [quote=“madsircool, post:12, topic:852901”] This reminds me of another song popularized by Dr Demento, The Ballad of Irving [/QUOTE] It would be helpful to actually mention the professions (or even the titles of some of the songs) for those who don’t want to watch youtube videos. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/32 "2020-04-30T19:36:44Z")
John Henry was a steel-drivin’ man. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/33 "2020-04-30T19:46:46Z")
In The Who’s _Quadrophenia_ album, _Bell-boy_ is of course about a bell-boy, and _The Dirty Jobs_ includes a pig farmer, coal miner, and bus driver. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/34 "2020-04-30T19:50:32Z")
Don’t Stand So Close To Me - Teacher/anybody practicing social distancing Sloop John B - Sailor Major Tom - Astronaut/Ground Controller ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/35 "2020-04-30T19:53:39Z")
Dave Frishberg - [My Attorney Bernie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEkS00PYDXk) The [Accountancy Shanty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn9SMnr55Dk) by Monty Python Rolling Stones - [The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaibByklYyc) ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/36 "2020-04-30T19:55:41Z")
From the early 1960’s Ray Peterson’s “Tell Laura I Love Her” - about a stock car racer. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/37 "2020-04-30T20:05:24Z")
_Zip City_ by **Drive-By Truckers** _“Your Daddy is a deacon down at the Salem Church of Christ And He makes good money as long as Reynolds Wrap keeps everything wrapped up tight”_ > [@journeyman\_southpaw](#): > > Rolling Stones - [The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaibByklYyc) Interesting. I listened to this fairly obscure song just yesterday while out in the Jeep. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/38 "2020-04-30T20:15:01Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > For example, Lovely Rita is a meter maid. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > “Penny Lane” has a barber, a banker, a nurse, and a fireman. > “Eleanor Rigby” has a priest. Other Beatles songs: _Paperback Writer Tax Man Dr. Robert Please Mr. Postman Mr. Kite_ was an acrobat _Her Majesty_ was a queen ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/39 "2020-04-30T20:19:22Z")
We got this far without [My Old Man’s A Dustman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7GeZ3YmONw) by Lonnie Donegan? How about a matching pair? [My Old Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooPVuG8ZbNE) by Ian Dury (Bus driver and, later, chauffeur.) j ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901/40 "2020-04-30T20:36:37Z")
Anthony works in a grocery store Sgt O’Leary is a cop who is a bartender on the weekends - both from _Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)_ by Billy Joel [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupations-in-songs/852901.md?page=3)