Labour Day is a funny thing. I never really understood its origins or just how far-reaching this holiday was around the world. Until today, when I looked it up.
Labour Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers. Yay? Its origins were in the labour union movement, which advocated for the 8-hour workday, with 8 hours of recreation and 8 hours of rest. In a perfect world, right? But for many of us, these magic numbers aren't far off. And we've got ourselves a day off.
The odd thing is that Labour Day is celebrated at different times of the year in different countries. Generally, it is on May 1st, or on the Monday closest to it. In some places, like Australia, the date is varies throughout the country, occurring in either March, April or May. And in other parts of the world, the day falls anywhere between September and November.
In my fair nation of Canada (and in the U.S.), Labour Day falls on the first Monday of September, the last weekend of summer, just before the new school year begins. And it's weird because after all those years of growing up, being conditioned to the long weekend before school thing, now, even as a long-employed adult, I still get a funny feeling at this time, as though I'm going back to school. Heh. Not a chance.
So.... all that to say that today's topic is songs about work. A number of tunes immediately came to mind, then I had to dig a bit. These are just a few of them, too... there must be many more out there. So while we are NOT working on this long weekend (some of us), why not listen to some songs about work? Enjoy!
Working Man, by Rush (THE classic work song off Rush's first album - heavy!)
Working for the Weekend, by Loverboy (We've all sung along with this one, right?)
Keep on Working, by Pete Townshend (little known, but I know it from Pete's 3rd solo album)
Working in a Coal Mine, by Devo (love it!)
Takin' Care of Business, by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (bar-room mainstay - pure gold)
Take This Job and Shove It, by Johnny Paycheck (the song and the name say it all)
Workin' For a Livin', Huey Lewis and the News (ah, the 80's)
Blue Collar Man, Styx (works well with Working Man as a double-header)
Working Class Hero, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
9 to 5, Dolly Parton
Manic Monday, The Bangles (oh yeah....)
Heigh Ho, The Seven Dwarfs (from the Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, duh)
A Hard Day's Night, The Beatles ("... been working like a dog...")
Money For Nothing, Dire Straits
Working on the Highway, Bruce Springsteen
We Work the Black Seam, Sting
Slave to the Grind, Skid Row
Whistle While You Work, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Get a Haircut, George Thorogood and the Destroyers
Peace of Mind, Boston
Killing is My Business... and Business is Good!, by Megadeth (hey, it's a living...)
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