3 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Workin' for the Man Lyrics
Hey now
You better listen to me every one of you
We got a lot a lot a lot a lot of work to do
Forget about your women
And that water can
Today you're working for the man
Well pick up your feet
We've got a deadline to meet
I'm gonna see you make it on time
Oh, don't relax
I want elbows and backs
I wanna see everybody from behind
'Cause you're working for the man
A'working for the man
Ya gotta make him a hand
A'working for the man
So I'm pickin' 'em up
And I'm layin' 'em down
I believe he's gonna work me into the ground
I pulled to the left, I heaved to the right
I outta kill him but it wouldn't be right
'Cause I'm working for the man
A'working for the man
I gotta make him a hand
A'working for the man
Well the bossman's daughter sneaks me water
Everytime her daddy's down the line
She says "Meet me tonight, love me right
And everything's gonna be fine."
So I slave all day, without much pay
I'm just abiding my time
'Cause the company and the daughter, you see
They're both gonna be all mine
Yeah I'm gonna be the man
A'gonna be the man
Gotta make him a hand
If I'm gonna be the man
A'working for the man
A'working for the man
I gotta make him a hand
A'working for the man
You better listen to me every one of you
We got a lot a lot a lot a lot of work to do
Forget about your women
And that water can
Today you're working for the man
We've got a deadline to meet
I'm gonna see you make it on time
Oh, don't relax
I want elbows and backs
I wanna see everybody from behind
A'working for the man
Ya gotta make him a hand
A'working for the man
And I'm layin' 'em down
I believe he's gonna work me into the ground
I pulled to the left, I heaved to the right
I outta kill him but it wouldn't be right
A'working for the man
I gotta make him a hand
A'working for the man
Everytime her daddy's down the line
She says "Meet me tonight, love me right
And everything's gonna be fine."
So I slave all day, without much pay
I'm just abiding my time
'Cause the company and the daughter, you see
They're both gonna be all mine
A'gonna be the man
Gotta make him a hand
If I'm gonna be the man
A'working for the man
I gotta make him a hand
A'working for the man
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Roy Orbison first wrote this song whilst he was road tripping with the manson family, He wrote it about working for charles manson whilst he was buying the love from one of mansons followers Susan Atkins.
I LOVE this song, perfectly describes the shitty job i have at the moment :)
unfortunately theres no bosses daughhter around loll
Is 'the man' the boss or a misogynist propositioning women? The song is cleverly ambiguous.