Maggie's Farm
The Specials Lyrics
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No, I aint gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
Well, I wake up in the morning
Fold my hands and pray for rain
I got a head full of ideas
That are drivin' me insane
It's a shame the way she makes me scrub the floor
I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more.
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother no more
No, I aint gonna work for Maggie's brother no more
Well, he hands you a nickel
He hands you a dime
He asks you with a grin
If you're havin' a good time
Then he fines you every time you slam the door
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother more.
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa no more
No, I aint gonna work for Maggie's pa no more
Well, he puts his cigar
Out in your face just for kicks
His bedroom window
It is made out of bricks
The National Guard stands around his door
Ah, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa no more.
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more
No, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more
Well, when she talks to all the servants
About man and God and law
Everybody says
She's the brains behind pa
She's sixty-eight, but she says she's fifty-four
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more.
I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
I aint gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
Well, I try my best
To be just like I am
But everybody wants you
To be just like them
They say sing while you slave and I just get bored
I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more.
The lyrics of The Specials’ version of “Maggie’s Farm” speak of the singer’s refusal to work for Maggie’s family regardless of the pay. The song speaks of Maggie’s brother, father, and mother's treatment of their workers, which is why the singer refuses to work for any of them. The lyrics are a protest against the injustice and lack of freedom in the workplace, as seen with the line, “They say sing while you slave and I just get bored”.
The repetitive chorus used in the song emphasizes the singer’s refusal to return to Maggie’s farm, while the verses highlight the reasons why. The third verse also gives a nod to the massive security detail that the British Prime Minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher, had been assigned. The song's lyrics serve as a symbol of the working class's frustration and the resistance to being forced to conform to societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
I refuse to continue laboring on Maggie's farm
No, I aint gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
I am not willing to work on Maggie's farm anymore
Well, I wake up in the morning
In the morning, I begin the day
Fold my hands and pray for rain
I engage in a ritual to hasten the approach of rainfall
I got a head full of ideas
I have a plethora of thoughts in my mind
That are drivin' me insane
These thoughts are causing me to lose my mind
It's a shame the way she makes me scrub the floor
The act of making me clean floors in this way is regrettable
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother no more
I am not going to perform labor for Maggie's brother anymore
Well, he hands you a nickel
He gives you a five-cent coin
He hands you a dime
He gives you a ten-cent coin
He asks you with a grin
He inquires with a smile
If you're havin' a good time
Asking if you are enjoying yourself
Then he fines you every time you slam the door
He charges you a penalty each time you close the entryway
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother more.
I will not engage in work for Maggie's brother going forward
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa no more
I refuse to work for Maggie's father any longer
Well, he puts his cigar
He places his cigar
Out in your face just for kicks
He exhales the cigar fumes in front of your face for amusement
His bedroom window
The window located in his sleeping quarters
It is made out of bricks
It is constructed entirely of bricks
The National Guard stands around his door
The National Guard is positioned near his entranceway
Ah, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa no more.
Ah, I will not work for Maggie's father in the future
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more
I have decided against working for Maggie's mother
Well, when she talks to all the servants
When she converses with all of the employees
About man and God and law
Regarding humanity, religious beliefs, and regulations
Everybody says
Everyone affirms
She's the brains behind pa
She is the one generating ideas for her husband to implement
She's sixty-eight, but she says she's fifty-four
Despite being sixty-eight years old, she claims to be fifty-four years old
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more.
I am not inclined to perform tasks for Maggie's mother any further
I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
I have decided not to continue working on Maggie's farm
I aint gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
I refuse to be involved in any job tasks that pertain to Maggie's farm ever again
Well, I try my best
I endeavor to do my utmost
To be just like I am
To remain true to myself
But everybody wants you
But other individuals desire for you
To be just like them
To conform to their likeness
They say sing while you slave and I just get bored
Others insist that singing while being exploited is the only way to keep from becoming disinterested
I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more.
I refuse to continue laboring on Maggie's farm
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thespecials
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@TheKatyc
Fureys lonesome boatman but me playing the air because I didn’t need a tin whistle
@TheKatyc
The heart of maggies farm . When all the animals come alive .
@TheKatyc
My grandad was the boatman in Mayo . That if he wasn’t the lonesome boatman, who feels the sea and birds, or feels a farm. Huh. You need to change this song into something warm and not an absolute twat song. Sorry
@TheKatyc
Indeed. The colour field . One of my fave songs
@TheKatyc
Always was into , the specials but sometimes need a twist .
@yoda_squadstrophies9035
Love this tune. They all seemed to be playing their own song, at the same time.
@oleggorky906
🤣
@jeromenicolas4384
That's "avant-garde" which sounds like a good concept!
@pobbinista
Sophisticated syncopation.