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The Happy Worker
Tori Amos Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Laughing out the smoke from a factory chimney
Marching to the beat of a heart within me
High ho hey ho we're off to work again
Bells are ringing we are singing
Joyous in our industry

I love my job, he loves his job
Pull that lever, start the engine
A pump the water, build the pressure, push the piston, press the button
Pump the water, build the pressure, push the piston, press the button
It's the perfect job

Happy workers, happy workers, yes
Happy workers, happy workers

I love my job, he loves his job
Pull that lever, start the engine
A pump the water, build the pressure, push the piston, press the button
Pump the water, build the pressure, push the piston, press the button
Pump the water, build the pressure, push the piston, press the button
It's the perfect job

Happy workers, happy workers
Happy workers, happy workers

I love my job, oh he loves his job
Pull the lever, sister, start the engine
Pump, pump the water yeah ooh yeah
Press, oh yeah, build the pressure, oh yehs
Pump the water, build the pressure, push the button oh yeah
It's the perfect job

Happy workers, happy workers
Happy workers, happy workers

I love my job, oh he loves his job
Pull the lever, sister, start the engine
Pump, pump the water yeah ooh yeah
Press, oh yeah, build the pressure, oh yehs
Pump the water, build the pressure, push the button oh yeah
It's the perfect job

Overall Meaning

Tori Amos's song, "Workers," is a sarcastic play on the idea of being happy with one's job. The upbeat melody is deceiving, as the lyrics revealed that the workers might not be as enthusiastic and content as they seem. The opening line, "Laughing out the smoke from a factory chimney," portrays a sense of desperation, as though the only way the workers can manage to survive this job is by giving into the reality that they are polluting their environment. They march to the beat of their own heart, possibly indicating that they are not marching to the beat of the corporate drum.


As the song progresses, the lyrics get repetitive, as though they are mindlessly performing the same task without any deviation. The chorus repeats "happy workers" over and over again, as though the workers are trying to convince themselves that they are, in fact, happy. It is evident that there exists a contrast between the tone and the lyrics in the song, and that the message Amos is trying to convey is that the reality is far from the happy picture that is being painted.


In conclusion, "Workers" is a sarcastic take on the capitalist notion that having a job means being happy. The repetitive lyrics and upbeat melody showcase how the workers are hypnotized and trapped in a cycle, ultimately revealing the truth that they are not being true to themselves.


Line by Line Meaning

Laughing out the smoke from a factory chimney
We are happy and content in our work, and take pride in our contribution to the factory's output.


Marching to the beat of a heart within me
We are motivated and driven by a sense of purpose within ourselves, and find fulfillment in our work.


High ho hey ho we're off to work again
We are enthusiastic and energized at the prospect of returning to work, eager to continue contributing.


Bells are ringing we are singing
We revel in the sounds of our workplace, enjoying the sense of community and shared purpose that we have built.


Joyous in our industry
We find happiness and meaning in our work, and are committed to doing it to the best of our abilities.


I love my job, he loves his job
We both take great pride and satisfaction in our work, and are happy to do it every day.


Pull that lever, start the engine
We are skilled and experienced in our work, and take pride in the efficiency and precision with which we carry out our tasks.


A pump the water, build the pressure, push the piston, press the button
Our work involves a series of physical and technical tasks, which we have mastered and carry out with ease.


It's the perfect job
We are truly content and fulfilled in our work, confident in our skills and commitment.


Happy workers, happy workers, yes
We are proud to be part of a team of workers who are all happy and fulfilled in their work, and who share a sense of camaraderie and common purpose.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRUCE WOOLLEY, TREVOR CHARLES HORN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@kafei44

Laughing out the smoke from a factory chimney
Marching to the beat of a heart within me
High ho hey ho we're off to work again
Bells are ringing we are singing
Joyous in our industry
I love my job, he loves his job
Pull that lever, start the engine
A pump the water, build the pressure, push the piston, press the button
Pump the water, build the pressure, push the piston, press the button
It's the perfect job
Happy workers, happy workers, yes
Happy workers, happy workers
I love my job, he loves his job
Pull that lever, start the engine
A pump the water, build the pressure, push the piston, press the button
Pump the water, build the pressure, push the piston, press the button
Pump the water, build the pressure, push the piston, press the button
It's the perfect job
Happy workers, happy workers
Happy workers, happy workers
I love my job, oh he loves his job
Pull the lever, sister, start the engine
Pump, pump the water yeah ooh yeah
Press, oh yeah, build the pressure, oh yehs
Pump the water, build the pressure, push the button oh yeah
It's the perfect job
Happy workers, happy workers
Happy workers, happy workers
I love my job, oh he loves his job
Pull the lever, sister, start the engine
Pump, pump the water yeah ooh yeah
Press, oh yeah, build the pressure, oh yehs
Pump the water, build the pressure, push the button oh yeah
It's the perfect job



All comments from YouTube:

@CamdenBloke

I want to play this on loop at the Amazon warehouse.

@freakshowfilmfestival3591

Aren't the Amazon workers punished enough?

@duewhit310

@@freakshowfilmfestival3591 ya that could be dangerous. Mass psychotic outbreaks.

@freakshowfilmfestival3591

@@duewhit310 there is a reason we have the term "going postal"

@duewhit310

@@freakshowfilmfestival3591 i thought they were isolated incidents and not group freakouts (in the PO)

@freakshowfilmfestival3591

@@duewhit310 you play that over and over at Amazon it will be a mass occurance. Lol

15 More Replies...

@sirsplintfastthepungent1373

this and Closing of the Year are absolute bangers.

@Aimlessartist

major nostalgia for me with the opening of that movie. Christmas, toys, the set design.. I still cry

@mrspicolli

I still adore this song every time I hear it. Love that movie, hate it bombed. It’s fantastic.

@troublemakerbros4267

I hate that its nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find online streaming anywhere, even if you were to purchase it. I had to snag a DvD of it before It became a "lost media"

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