My Top Ten 'Hate Your Job' Songs

Inevitable, really...


10. The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now

There was a time this one would have been Number One, but... y'know...

Still. Has he ever written a truer line?

I was looking for a job 

And then I found a job

And heaven knows I'm miserable now

9. The Police - Dead End Job

Sting has rarely sounded angrier.

Don't wanna be no teacher, I don't wanna be no slave

I don't wanna work no assembly line, like my uncle Dave

The queue gets longer everyday, I just ain't got time to stay

I ain't gonna run away, all I wanna do is play

8. The Walkmen - This Job Is Killing Me

Just like Thom Yorke said...

7. Lou Reed - Don't Talk To Me About Work

I'm not sure Lou Reed ever did a day's work in his life. But it's nice of him to sympathise with the rest of us.

Don't talk to me about work

Please don't talk to me about work

I'm up to my eyeballs in dirt

With work, with work

How many dollars, how many sales

How many liars, how many tales

How many insults must you take in this one life?

I'm in prison most of the day

So please excuse me if I get this way

But I have got obligations to keep

So be very careful when you speak

Don't talk to me about work

6. The Jam - Smithers-Jones

Sitting on the train, you're nearly there

You're a part of the production line

You're the same as him, you're like tin-sardines

Get out of the pack, before they peel you back

And after all that effort, they give him the sack.

This always makes me think Weller must have been listening to Sparks.

5. BJ Barham - American Tobacco Company

Only recently discovered this, but it's been on repeat play.

Now every single morning I walk into this building

I think about my children, and the life they oughta lead

And I try my best

Not to look back

4. The Divine Comedy - Office Politics

This one's about the bastards in charge and how they keep getting away with it.

Intern chokes on his gooseberry fool

Consternation in the typing pool

Press the flesh, do the deal

Book your place on the hamster wheel

See that PowerPoint presentation

Worthy of a BAFTA nomination

Zero hours, maximum pressure

You know what they say about business and pleasure

3.  Johnny Paycheck - Take This Job And Shove It

Who doesn't dream of one day walking into the boss's office and saying these words?

Well, that foreman, he's a regular dog

The line boss, he's a fool

Got a brand new flattop haircut

Lord, he thinks he's cool

One of these days I'm gonna' blow my top

And that sucker, he's gonna' pay

Lord I can't wait to see their faces

When I get the nerve to say

Take this job and shove it

I ain't working here no more!

2. Drive-By Truckers - This Fucking Job

Well, quite.

Workin' this job is a kick in the pants

Workin' this job is like a knife in the back

It ain't gettin' me further than the dump I live in

It ain't gettin' me further than the next paycheck

Workin' this job is like lightin' two fuses

Workin' this job is runnin' out of excuses

It's like a dead-end when a road map is useless

Until I'm dead and there's nothin' to show for my uses

1. Huey Lewis & The News - Workin' For A Livin'

Look, I know you don't agree that this should be Number One, but I need cheering up, OK? And Huey always does the job...

Some days won't end ever and some days pass on by

I'll be working here forever, at least until I die

Damned if you do, damned if you don't

I'm supposed to get a raise week, you know damn well I won't

HARMONICA!



As per the new Top Ten rule, I stopped looking for them once I had ten, so I'm sure there's lots more where these came from. Feel free to throw me your suggestions and I'll happily do a Volume 2. Misery loves company...