# Songs about Work
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** music
**Created:** [September 1, 2021, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895 "2021-09-01T12:47:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/81 "2021-09-02T05:41:53Z")
Florence Reece’s **Which Side Are You On?**
Here’s Pete Seeger singing it: [Pete Seeger "Which Side Are You On?" - YouTube](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9XEnTxlBuGo)
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### Author:  [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/82 "2021-09-02T06:02:35Z")
One song that is perhaps the most apt given the thread subject:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDP_HuBaQfs)
Another about a working stiff whose career doesn’t go as planned:
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/a0cCRRFi1aA/maxresdefault.jpg ""Weird Al" Yankovic - Skipper Dan") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0cCRRFi1aA)
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### Author:  [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/83 "2021-09-02T06:24:10Z")
In Money, Money, Money Swedish Pop Giants **ABBA** sing ‘_I work all day I work all night to pay the bills I have to pay_’
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETxmCCsMoD0)
In **Echo Beach Martha and the Muffins** sing ‘_My job is very boring I’m an office clerk_’
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lpqDTQOFvf0/maxresdefault.jpg "Martha And The Muffins "Echo Beach"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpqDTQOFvf0)
TCMF-2L
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/84 "2021-09-02T06:31:10Z")
Another Johnny Cash song - Oney
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIdC5awNg20)
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### Author:  [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/85 "2021-09-02T06:33:46Z")
Any musicians who don’t have a suitable song for inclusion in this thread need to take the sage advise from **The Offspring** in their **Beatles** inspired classic **Get A Job**
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH-i8IvYIcg)
The actual **Beatles** had songs about traffic wardens
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqe_yLT8wd4)
Authors
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYvkICbTZIQ)
And the taxman
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAWugfIKyWA)
TCMF-2L
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### Author:  [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/86 "2021-09-02T11:39:31Z")
A lot of great working songs!
> [@kitap](#):
>
> Blue Collar Man by Styx
Nice live performance. I was going to post either this one or the one I decided on, “Working Man” by Rush.
Always preferred the Tommy Shaw songs over the Dennis DeYoung influenced songs.
> [@don\_t\_ask](#):
>
> The Bangles - Manic Monday
Thanks, that really pinged the MTV nostalgia meter. One thing I noticed listening to the song I never did before-- I knew the part of the lyrics that went
_He tells me in his bedroom voice_
_C’mon honey, let’s go make some noise_
But I never noticed (they’re kind of hard to make out) that the lyrics just before say:
_Of all my nights_
_Why did my lover have to pick last night_
_To get down?_
_(Last night, last night)_
_Doesn’t it matter_
_That I have to feed the both of us?_
So, in that scenario, this moocher has Susannah Hoffs for a sugar momma? Lucky guy!
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#):
>
> Here’s one about work stresses and violence, from the Roaring 20’s, no less:
That was great, thanks. I love hearing those old songs from a bygone era. Surprisingly good sound quality for the 20s too.
> [@EinsteinsHund](#):
>
> D’oh, and of course: [Working Clas Hero]
Another on the short list of the working-related songs I had thought of off the top of my head!
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Since the OP mentioned them… [Salt of the Earth]
And also this one!
> [@racer72](#):
>
> Dire Straits, Money For Nothing. Selling microwaves and color TV’s.
…and of course this one!
> [@Si\_Amigo](#):
>
> But its so good it needs mentioned twice!
Fair enough!
> [@saucywench](#):
>
> _Just A Gigolo_ - Louis Prima
Nice work if you can get it…?
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/87 "2021-09-02T11:55:07Z")
More Weird Al.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCno1HSNUnE)
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/C-CG5w4YwOI/maxresdefault.jpg ""Weird Al" Yankovic - Party In The CIA (Parody of "Party In The U.S.A." by Miley Cyrus)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-CG5w4YwOI)
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### Author:  [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/88 "2021-09-02T13:20:47Z")
I don’t believe this has been posted!
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjyj8qnqkYI)
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### Author:  [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/89 "2021-09-02T13:44:04Z")
_Industrial Disease_ - Dire Straights
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEn9wvz3teg)
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### Author:  [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/90 "2021-09-02T16:49:30Z")
The Factory by Warren Zevon:
[https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiMtIr23uDyAhUBEVkFHUwZBnoQyCkwAHoECAIQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DkBsma5gfey4&usg=AOvVaw3-SnMU6P6kk9LoFD1tDqbU](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiMtIr23uDyAhUBEVkFHUwZBnoQyCkwAHoECAIQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DkBsma5gfey4&usg=AOvVaw3-SnMU6P6kk9LoFD1tDqbU)
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### Author:  [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/91 "2021-09-02T18:10:32Z")
_Casey Jones_ - Grateful Dead
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d160GSGtPxY)
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### Author:  [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/92 "2021-09-02T18:25:19Z")
The Who - The Dirty Jobs
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x1J9JWEFos)
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### Author:  [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/93 "2021-09-02T18:38:34Z")
_Rocket Man_ - Elton John
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btvqt083DKI)
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### Author:  [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/94 "2021-09-02T18:52:32Z")
A different kind of “work.” 😉
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghcsrblhn7A)
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### Author:  [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/95 "2021-09-02T20:26:08Z")
Celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIE4UjBtx-o)
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### Author:  [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/96 "2021-09-02T20:55:10Z")
**Davy’s On The Road Again** by **Manfred Mann’s Earth Band** always sounds to me like being a touring rock musician is a soul destroying drudge (as it may well be.)
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAMm_LuN-a8)
**Motörhead** , even after acknowledging the hardships involved, seem to enjoy the life of a roadie
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhY8TYpxNbA)
TCMF-2L
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### Author:  [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/97 "2021-09-02T21:15:45Z")
**Rob Halford** of **Judas Priest** is a **Killing Machine**. _Pay me the money and I’ll do the job._
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6mv8hu5lYA)
TCMF-2L
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### Author:  [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/98 "2021-09-02T21:43:40Z")
Keep on Working / Pete Townshend
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ54CefyLfc)
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### Author:  [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/99 "2021-09-02T21:50:02Z")
Van Morrison again: I’ve Been Working
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMi_fh6PumE)
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2021, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-work/949895/100 "2021-09-02T22:28:43Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#):
>
> The Strawbs, “Part of the Union,” which pretty much takes the theme and some of the lyrics from Woody Guthrie’s “Union Maid.”
> [https://youtu.be/KdOCWUgwiWs](https://youtu.be/KdOCWUgwiWs)
> There is some dispute over whether it is a pro-labour or anti-labour song, but according to the BBC “Although the lyrics could be read as satirical of the trade union movement, the band has frequently stated that that’s not the case at all. In fact the song was picked up by the trade unions and became something of an unofficial anthem for them.”
The lyrics are about a union man happily joining his comrades in sticking it to the company and driving it to ruin - in fact _60 Minutes_ used it as a backdrop to a story about British strikes forcing firms into bankruptcy. So if it became a union anthem, it says something about labor relations and the economy of that time.
Great song though.
I’m taking care of business, woman, can’t you see?
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g45Ljqgijiw)
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