Ten Favorite Work Songs: Workin' Man Blues (#5)

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All hail the conquering hero! I played less terribly than everyone else last night (seriously, winning score was a measly seven under par) to take my first Putt Putt tournament of the year. Back to work this morning, and that means it's time for another song that features the word "work" in the title. Here's the next song on my countdown. #5: Workin' Man Blues - Merle Haggard All those surprised raise their hands? Didn't think so. They've said that country music is "working man's music" or "blue collar music." One of Merle Haggard's nicknames was "The Poet of the Common Man." And, honestly, does it get any more "common" than a song about the guy doing the manual labor. What the labor involves isn't specified, but he's part of "the crew." And, like all good blue-collar workers (stereotypically), he stops off at the local bar for a beer ("I'll drink my beer in a tavern") before heading home. Talk about dated? This song contains the following line: I ain't never been on welfare That's one place I won't be 'Cause I'll be workin' Yeah, let's see that mentality today... Trivia time: the lead guitar on the recorded version is by James Burton, Elvis' TCB Band guitarist. Workin' Man Blues Written by Merle Haggard Recorded by Merle Haggard From A Portrait of Merle Haggard, 1969 Hey, hey, the workin' man: