Worksongs: A Mix
death
On Monday night, I filled out a job application for the first time in almost 4 years. It’s for a government gig (Death Panel Co-Ordinator), so it was a pretty laborous process – I think I spent a little over three hours filling it out online. This was done, naturally, while tending to my current job. If I’m gonna spend that much time filling something out, I might as well be getting paid while doing it.
The process got me thinking about songs that involve working in some way. As the resident indie-popper, a quick scan of my hard drive yielded a surprising number of songs about work. That number was three. Maybe the guys and gals that are part of the bands that I like just didn’t spend too much time with real jobs before they signed their deals with Matador. Maybe my music collection has too much Brooklyn and not enough Queens.
So I turned to Tyge, Ben, and Stuart and solicited their contributions. The result is the following mix that you can listen to below. This would also constitute our first-ever group posting. Hooray us!
Since I wasn’t particularly clear in my intentions, a lot of the suggested songs weren’t really about working – they just happened to have “work” in the title. I tried my best to whittle those songs to the ones that – at the very least – have a couple lines that involve working (as opposed to a song like “Work Me” by The Black Keys, which is more about working on someone’s genitals, which can only be considered work if you’re doing it wrong). Also, I went easy on the folk songs. If I would have gone through my collection of Smithsonian Folkways recordings, I would have had this mix compiled in about 5 minutes.
Lastly, a word about Loverboy. “Working For The Weekend” was suggested by Ben. I had originally uploaded it and was ready to include it in the mix, but . . . but . . . well, I just couldn’t do it. I’m sorry – that song is absolute shit.
sorry guys
Click on the Yahoo Media Player thingy on the bottom left and enjoy.
1) Belle And Sebastian – It Could Have Been A Brilliant Career
2) R.E.M. – Finest Worksong
3) Pete Seeger – Peg And Awl
4) The Pretenders – Back On The Chain Gang
5) Black Lips – Workin’
6) Pylon – Working Is No Problem
7) Cass McCombs – The Executioner’s Song
8) Lambchop – Scamper
9) Palace Music – Work Hard / Play Hard
10) Dramarama – Work For Food
11) Bruce Springsteen – Working On The Highway
12) Jim Croce – Working At The Carwash Blues
13) Randy Newman – Mr President (Have Pity On The Working Man)
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