Yeah well no one really understands,
A shopping cart is filled with cans,
And a top hat, and a snare drum, and a horn.
And a poster and some magazines,
With my picture, and some magic beans,
And a blanket, that I got, when I was born.

Different people do the same things everyday,
I just look the other way,
But I keep on rollin', I keep on rollin'

I deny a problem with my attitude,
'Cause I will work for food,
Yeah I keep on rollin', I keep on rollin'

I wasn't always pararnoid,
Sang a song on Uncle Floyd,
But the records, never sold, and that was bad.
And my Mommy still took care of me,
Till I was almost thirty-three
Now she's gone up to heaven, to see Dad.

Sheriffs came with pistols and their starry sleeves,
Gimme thirty days to leave,
And I keep on rollin', I keep on rollin

No one wants to pay me for my broken heart,
So now I've got this shopping cart,
And I keep on rollin', I keep on rollin'
On

On, and on, and on, and on, and on

Different people do the same things everyday,
I just look the other way,
And I keep on rollin', I keep on rollin'

I can't live without eternal gratitude,
'Cause I will work for food,
And I keep on rollin', I keep on rollin'
On

On, and on and on, and on, and on

On, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on and on and
On

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Lyrics submitted by jazzchic

Work for Food Lyrics as written by John Mills Easdale

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Work For Food song meanings

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5 Comments

+1
General Comment
As far as "song meanings" go, I believe Mr. Easdale commented that this was written largely about himself as an imagined future where he could wind up homeless following the lack of success with Dramarama.

As far as "song meanings" go, I believe Mr. Easdale commented that this was written largely about himself as an imagined future where he could wind up homeless following the lack of success with Dramarama.

Reason:

RogerRyanon September 15, 2010 Link
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@RogerRyan

@RogerRyan: The first time I saw them play this song (possibly the first time they ever played it live), that's pretty much exactly how he described it.

Late one night, walking down Sunset near the all-night Ralph's supermarket, he saw a homeless guy pushing a shopping cart, and it struck him: "In 10 it 15 years, I'm going to be a one-hit wonder that nobody remembers, all my friends and family back on the east coast, and I'll be living out of one of those shopping carts." But for some reason, it didn't seem nearly as depressing as it should have. So the next day, he wrote these lyrics.

falcotronon September 08, 2016
+1
General Comment
This song is about how, in a few years, he might well be a one-hit-wonder has-been living out of a shopping cart. So, about three decades later, I saw Dramarama, and they played this song, and of course it was amazing. After the show, I talked to them, and he told me they snuck it in at the last minute, because they got an extra 5 minutes because one of the bands canceled. I asked him what it was like to sing this song 30 years later. He laughed and said, "Turns out the rock&roll lifestyle isn't much worse than the homeless lifestyle after all, I just have to sing Anything for food."

This song is about how, in a few years, he might well be a one-hit-wonder has-been living out of a shopping cart. So, about three decades later, I saw Dramarama, and they played this song, and of course it was amazing. After the show, I talked to them, and he told me they snuck it in at the last minute, because they got an extra 5 minutes because one of the bands canceled. I asked him what it was like to sing this song 30 years later. He laughed and said, "Turns out the rock&roll lifestyle isn't much worse than the homeless lifestyle after all, I just have to sing Anything for food."

Reason:

falcotronon September 08, 2016 Link
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@falcotron
0
General Comment
Probably one of my most commonly tabbed Dramarama songs. This group is up there with the most under rated bands of the late 80s early 90s. This song nearly word for word describes a friend of mine. Aside from the obvious story line, I also feel it is saying there is more to life than your job title.

Probably one of my most commonly tabbed Dramarama songs. This group is up there with the most under rated bands of the late 80s early 90s. This song nearly word for word describes a friend of mine. Aside from the obvious story line, I also feel it is saying there is more to life than your job title.

Reason:

jazzchicon November 12, 2004 Link
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@jazzchic
0
General Comment
I love this song.. The keep on rolling part makes me think about no matter how bad it gets, keep on going, don't stop. . I love the way he makes no exuses, just lays out one mis-step after another and then keeps on rolling on and on and on

I love this song.. The keep on rolling part makes me think about no matter how bad it gets, keep on going, don't stop. . I love the way he makes no exuses, just lays out one mis-step after another and then keeps on rolling on and on and on

Reason:

xinniefulon January 28, 2005 Link
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@xinnieful
0
General Comment
As someone with a mentally ill father who has lived on the streets most of my life, this song has always hit me hard. I don’t know if that was the intention here but the line “No ones wants to pay me for my broken heart” is probably the most honest and true thing every expressed about someone living that life.

As someone with a mentally ill father who has lived on the streets most of my life, this song has always hit me hard. I don’t know if that was the intention here but the line “No ones wants to pay me for my broken heart” is probably the most honest and true thing every expressed about someone living that life.

Reason:

HisRuinon September 07, 2019 Link
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@HisRuin