LJ Idol S5 Topic 14: Resolute

I keep my nose on the grindstone, I work hard every day
Might get a little tired on the weekend, after I draw my pay
But I'll go back workin', come Monday morning I'm right back with the crew
I'll drink a little beer that evenin',
Sing a little bit of these workin' man blues

Six ‘til two.  Two ‘til ten.  Ten ‘til six.

Double shifts.  Overtime.  The wife says, “Gotta make that money.”  Kids need braces, need to pay for college.

Graveyard.  The kids don’t like it when I work graveyard.  They say I’m a grouch.  “Watch out, Dad’s on graveyard”, they say.

Thirty-five years.

Hold out a few more.

My daddy retired from here.  Started at 16, worked 41 years.  I started at 18, and they told me last week that I’m on the shutdown crew and then I can’t come back no more.  I’m too old to do anything else, too young to retire.

Hey hey, the workin' man, the workin' man like me
I ain't never been on welfare, that's one place I won't be
Cause I'll be working, long as my two hands are fit to use
I drink a little beer in a tavern
Sing a little bit of these workin' man blues

 

Thanks for coming, governor.  It’s a bit too late.

I don’t really understand what happened.  They just flew in from Memphis.

The wife did my resume and there’s a job fair next week.  They say to come “properly attired”.  I guess overalls and work boots ain’t considered proper attire.  Gotta spend money that we don’t have on a tie and shine my boots.

I really don’t know what we’ll do and I know we’ve got it better than most, but somehow I’ve got to figure out a way to get another job.  And shake off these feelings of being past my prime and useless.

It’s all gotta work out.  There’s really no other choice.

Sometimes I think about leavin', do a little bummin' around
I wanna throw my bills out the window, catch a train to another town
But I go back workin', I gotta buy my kids a brand new pair of shoes
Yeah, drink a little beer in a tavern,
Cry a little bit of these workin' man blues
            Merle Haggard - "Workin' Man Blues"