Since I am happily retired, here are some relatively light-hearted songs about working for a living. I saw Son Seals do ‘Call My Job’ at Chicagofest in 1978 and was horrified. I realized there are people who had to call in sick to get a day off (I didn’t get paid, but I had all the time I wanted) and people who had to run a machine at work (not me, I painted apartments). Anyone who has to run a machine is entitled to sing the blues. As Goethe wrote: Just you wait, boy. Five years later I was sitting in an office in front of a computer, truly an infernal machine. Son Seals was a great singer, songwriter, and guitar player.
And a version of Peter Pan by the Fools: I don’t wanna get a job/I don’t wanna go to work. Also: I don’t wanna wear a tie/and a serious expression every time I get high. (This was 20 years before business casual and work from home.)
As I write when I send a birthday greeting: It isn’t the growing old that kills us, it’s the growing up. Let’s think about not working on this Labor Day.
converselyspeaking 