Songs for changing jobs?

Cafe Society
#1

We’re creating a CD for an officemate’s going-away party.
She’s leaving for a new job, and we’re looking for songs related to work and jobs, etc. Songs both funny and sad.

We’ve already decided to include Johnny Paycheck’s “Take this Job and Shove it,” King Missile’s “Take Stuff From Work” and the Ramones “Glad to See you Go.”

What songs spring to mind when you think “work?”

For the decorations/theme, what US TV shows are/were centered around an office? We’re having a lot of trouble with this for some reason.

Thanks!

#2

I forgot to mention that we’re finishing up the party prep on Thursday afternoon, so I’ll probably last check this thread around noon on Thursday May 16, 2002.

#3

Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” is a given.
“Manic Monday” by the Bangles.
“Damn it Feels Good to be a Gangsta” by the Geto Boys. (only because of Office Space - I can’t use a fax machine without humming this one!)

#4

“Frankly Mr. Shankly” - The Smiths:

Frankly, Mr. Shankly this position I’ve held
It pays my way but it corrodes my soul
I want to leave
You will not miss me
I want to go down in musical history

#5

Huey Lewis and the News, “Working for a Living.”

When I quit my last real job, I played Billy Joel’s “Movin’ Out” on my car stereo as I pulled out of the parking lot for the last time.

Office TV shows:

WKRP in Cincinnati
Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ally McBeal
L.A. Law
Dilbert (animated)
Drew Carey Show
NewsRadio
Murphy Brown

#6

"Big City Turn Me Loose" - Merle Haggard (and there’s also a great cover by Iris Diment)

I’m tired of this dirty old city
Entirely too much work
And never enough play
And I’m tired of these dirty old sidewalks
I think I’ll
Walk off my steady job today

#7

Here’s good one: “Sixteen Tons”

#8

"Working in a Coal Mine" - Devo (This one’s an absolute must.)

(Lord! I am so tired!)
"Sixteen Tons" - Tennessee Ernie Ford:

You load sixteen tons
And what do you get?
Another day older
and deeper in debt

#9

Excellent, excellent! Keep 'em coming!

(I knew the SDMB was the right place to ask)

#10

It would be funny to record a cover of Huey Lewis’ “I want a new drug” and just replace drug with job…

I want a new job
One that won’t make me sick
One that won’t make me crash my car
Or make me feel three feet thick

I want a new job
One that won’t hurt my head
One that won’t make my mouth too dry
Or make my eyes too red

One that won’t make me nervous
Wondering what to do
One that makes me feel like I feel when I’m with you
When I’m alone with you

I want a new job
One that won’t go away
One that won’t keep me up all night
One that won’t make me sleep all day

One that won’t make me nervous
Wondering what to do
One that makes me feel like I feel when I’m with you
When I’m alone with you
I’m alone with you baby
(edited)

#11

"Working in a Coal Mine" - Devo (This one’s an absolute must.)

(Lord! I am so tired!)
"Sixteen Tons" - Tennessee Ernie Ford:

You load sixteen tons
And what do you get?
Another day older
and deeper in debt

#12

It would be funny to record a cover of Huey Lewis’ “I want a new drug” and just replace drug with job…

I want a new job
One that won’t make me sick
One that won’t make me crash my car
Or make me feel three feet thick

I want a new job
One that won’t hurt my head
One that won’t make my mouth too dry
Or make my eyes too red

One that won’t make me nervous
Wondering what to do
One that makes me feel like I feel when I’m with you
When I’m alone with you

I want a new job
One that won’t go away
One that won’t keep me up all night
One that won’t make me sleep all day

One that won’t make me nervous
Wondering what to do
One that makes me feel like I feel when I’m with you
When I’m alone with you
I’m alone with you baby
(edited)

#13

Craig David: “I’m walking away, from the troubles in my life”.

#14

Taking care of business by Bachman Turner Overdrive

#15

"Workin’ for the Man" - Roy Orbison:

*Pick up your feet
We got a deadline to meet
I’m gonna see you make it on time
Now don’t relax
I want elbows and backs
I want to see everybody from behind

‘Cause your workin’ for the man…*

"Chain Gang" Sam Cooke

I’m goin’ home one of these days
I’m goin home
See my woman
Whom I love so dear
But meanwhile, I got to work right here

"Bang on the Drum All Day" - Todd Rundgren

Every day when I get home from work
I feel so frustrated
The boss is a jerk
And I get my sticks and go out to the shed
And I pound on that drum like it was the boss’s head

"Old Man River" - any number of performers. Jim Croce did an interesting version. Kind of a downer, though, so I’m not sure if it’s right for your purposes. Sample:

*Old man river
That old man river
He must know somethin’
but he don’t say nothin’
That old man river he just keeps rollin’ along

He don’t plant taters
Don’t plant cotton
Cause them that plants them is soon forgotten
That old man river
He just keeps rollin’ along

But you and me
Sweat and strain
Bodies all achin’
and wracked with pain
Load that barge
Lift that bale
Get a little drunk
And you land in jail

etc.*

#16

Don’t forget about Loverboy, “Working for the Weekend.”

#17

Greatful Dead-

Beat It On Down The Line (BIODTL)

#18

strange doublepost.
sorry

#19

Another good work-related Ramones song you might play is “The Job That Ate My Brain.”

#20

Minimum wage by the bus boys if you can find it :slight_smile: