Tina MusialMonday's Oldies Song: Workin' Man Blues
June 2nd 2008 05:09
Play Something Country is your home for great country song, concert, and album reviews. We review songs in this order:
Monday: Oldies Country
Tuesday: Tear-jerkers
Wednesday: Wildcard
Thursday: Hit Song of the Week
Friday: Party Song
Today’s Oldies Song:
Workin’ Man Blues by Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard’s consistent appeal to the blue-collared worker shines brightly in his 1969 single “Workin’ Man Blues”. The song tells the story of the everyday working man, as Haggard once again brings a voice to the members of society often looked down upon (Haggard also has a slew of songs about inmates and low income families).
The song opens with a few seconds of nothing but guitar, the instrument that carries most of Haggard’s songs. The guitar-picking in “Workin’ Man Blues” is without question some of the best in his repertoire of songs, and the solo before the final verse is certainly one to remember from Haggard’s career.
But the important thing about this song is the meaning behind it. The underlying tone of this song perfectly matches the underlying tone of Merle Haggard’s entire career. After singing the four verses, Haggard’s ends the song with a simiple, spoken statement: “This song is for the working man.”
It seems as if Haggard could have ended most of his songs with that same simple statement, and his career was in fact dedicated to those members of society. “Workin’ Man Blues” speaks of the troubles of the average working man, saying he’s “gotta buy my kids a brand new pair of shoes.” The simple references to everyday life drove Haggard’s entire career, and drive this song.
Haggard ends each line with relaxing himself from a long workday: “I drink a little beer that evening, and sing a little bit of them working man blues.” Living the life of the average working man, the speaker in the song also puts up with everyday struggles, and his “nine kids and a wife”.
For those who listen closely, they notice an extra flare to the song that truly adds to the blue-collar feel. In the background, helping to keep the beat, the sound of a railroad pike being hammered into the ground dings on every eighth beat. Haggard uses this exceptional technique to bring closer the feeling of a working man’s life, and make his listeners comfortable with the life he is living.
Merle Haggard dedicated an entire career to the working man, and summed up his career with the same line he summed up this song with. “Workin’ Man Blues”, Haggard would say, is a good summary of his career. It certainly is a great summary of his musical talent.
[Capitol Records; Written by: Merle Haggard; Album: A Portrait of Merle Haggard (1969); Single Release: 1969]
www.merlehaggard.com
Monday: Oldies Country
Tuesday: Tear-jerkers
Wednesday: Wildcard
Thursday: Hit Song of the Week
Friday: Party Song
Today’s Oldies Song:
Workin’ Man Blues by Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard’s consistent appeal to the blue-collared worker shines brightly in his 1969 single “Workin’ Man Blues”. The song tells the story of the everyday working man, as Haggard once again brings a voice to the members of society often looked down upon (Haggard also has a slew of songs about inmates and low income families).
The song opens with a few seconds of nothing but guitar, the instrument that carries most of Haggard’s songs. The guitar-picking in “Workin’ Man Blues” is without question some of the best in his repertoire of songs, and the solo before the final verse is certainly one to remember from Haggard’s career.
But the important thing about this song is the meaning behind it. The underlying tone of this song perfectly matches the underlying tone of Merle Haggard’s entire career. After singing the four verses, Haggard’s ends the song with a simiple, spoken statement: “This song is for the working man.”
It seems as if Haggard could have ended most of his songs with that same simple statement, and his career was in fact dedicated to those members of society. “Workin’ Man Blues” speaks of the troubles of the average working man, saying he’s “gotta buy my kids a brand new pair of shoes.” The simple references to everyday life drove Haggard’s entire career, and drive this song.
Haggard ends each line with relaxing himself from a long workday: “I drink a little beer that evening, and sing a little bit of them working man blues.” Living the life of the average working man, the speaker in the song also puts up with everyday struggles, and his “nine kids and a wife”.
For those who listen closely, they notice an extra flare to the song that truly adds to the blue-collar feel. In the background, helping to keep the beat, the sound of a railroad pike being hammered into the ground dings on every eighth beat. Haggard uses this exceptional technique to bring closer the feeling of a working man’s life, and make his listeners comfortable with the life he is living.
Merle Haggard dedicated an entire career to the working man, and summed up his career with the same line he summed up this song with. “Workin’ Man Blues”, Haggard would say, is a good summary of his career. It certainly is a great summary of his musical talent.
[Capitol Records; Written by: Merle Haggard; Album: A Portrait of Merle Haggard (1969); Single Release: 1969]
www.merlehaggard.com
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