Wörk
Andy Partridge/XTC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mentally or physically
What four-letter word
D'you know like...
Look at me smile
Look at me doing their
Work
Why'see me shuffle in the dirt
But I don't mind
'Cause it's work
You got me rolling up my shirt
There's all my old friends
Sat by the fountain drinking beer
Their days have no starts and no ends
They drift into pub nights with no
Promise for tomorrow
All that they want is some
Work
Work
Look at me smile
Look at me polish these tools
Am I breaking all the rules?
A cycle like that
I don't want to be late for school
Well it's night school
Now all my new friends
Sit in their [site] huts drinking tea
My day has no start and no ends
Drifts into whole nights in my
Coffin by the fireside
Bugger this game
I know who's to blame
And that's
Work
Aw, work
Keep your fingers busy
Mentally or physically
What four-letter word
D'you know like
Oh! Work, work
Oh! Work, work
I'm back with my old friends
Sat by the Brunel drinking beer
Don't want this to ever end
We're living in fear of being
Mizzled by a new myth
Work
I don't want to go to work
Work
I don't want to go to work
The song "Work" by XTC is about the mundane nature of everyday life, the struggle to find purpose, and the societal pressure to conform to established routines. The singer is torn between societal expectations of employment and the desire to break free from the dull and repetitive aspects of work. The lyrics suggest a longing for the freedom that comes from living without the constraints of modern work culture.
The opening lines "Keep your fingers busy, mentally or physically, what four-letter word d'you know like…?" introduces the central theme of the song - work. The singer acknowledges the importance of work but questions its value and wonders why it has to be a four-letter word. The chorus reinforces this struggle as the singer sings "I don't want to go to work," expressing a feeling of entrapment in their job.
The message of the song is not against work per se, but against the drudgery and lack of purpose often associated with work in modern society. The lyrics suggest a desire to break free from the routine and monotony of working life to find something more meaningful. The song encourages listeners to question the societal pressure to conform to the expectation of work as a defining aspect of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep your fingers busy
Stay engaged and productive
Mentally or physically
Whether it's with your mind or body
What four-letter word
What activity is both necessary and often dreaded
D'you know like...
Do you understand what I'm getting at?
Look at me smile
I'm trying to convince myself that I'm happy doing this
Look at me doing their
I'm working hard for someone else's benefit
Work
The necessary evil of employment
Why'see me shuffle in the dirt
Why am I stuck doing menial labor?
My how I sweat
I'm working hard and it's showing
But I don't mind
I've accepted this as my fate
'Cause it's work
A reminder that this is my job
You got me rolling up my shirt
I'm doing hard physical labor
There's all my old friends
My peers who didn't pursue employment
Sat by the fountain drinking beer
Relaxing and enjoying life without work
Their days have no starts and no ends
They don't have the structure that work provides
They drift into pub nights with no
They don't have anything else to do
Promise for tomorrow
No career growth or future prospects
All that they want is some
Their only goal is to find employment
Work
The elusive goal that they desire
Look at me polish these tools
I'm taking pride in my craft
Am I breaking all the rules?
Is this unconventional employment frowned upon?
A cycle like that
This routine
I don't want to be late for school
I don't want to miss my chance for upward mobility
Well, it's night school
I'm working extra hard to better myself
Now all my new friends
My peers in the same field as me
Sit in their [site] huts drinking tea
Taking a break from hard labor to relax
My day has no start and no ends
I work long hours with no clear beginning or end
Drifts into whole nights in my
The day turns into night and I'm still working
Coffin by the fireside
Exhausted and drained from the day's labor
Bugger this game
I hate this cycle of endless work
I know who's to blame
I can identify that the system is at fault
And that's
Here's where I place the blame
Work
The source of my frustration and exhaustion
Aw, work
Ugh, work
I'm back with my old friends
Rejoining my peers who don't work
Sat by the Brunel drinking beer
Enjoying life without the stress of work
Don't want this to ever end
This is the life I truly desire
We're living in fear of being
We're afraid of having to return to work
Mizzled by a new myth
Losing our paradise of not working
Work
The looming threat that we try to ignore
I don't want to go to work
A declaration of my desire to not work
Work
The dreaded and pervasive symbol of the daily grind
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDY PARTRIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SteveConteNYC
Hey Greg! Thanks for doing another one of these with AP - you always ask the perfect musician questions. I was so fortunate to have Andy write half of my forthcoming solo album with me (The Concrete Jangle - on Little Steven Van Zandt's label, Wicked Cool Records). In fact, 2 of our co-writes are here on Youtube; "Fourth Of July" https://youtu.be/G6PB0I5jkLg?si=SV4sO0vpva7ortlG & "Shoot Out the Stars" https://youtu.be/2jqS80X4TNo?si=3IA_l3k5ZdgB-AKa
I can attest to Andy's "visual" method of writing because that is exactly what happened on the songs we wrote together. I met him through our mutual pal Steve Lillywhite back around 2015. When I first spoke to Andy he said that I stole his dream job, playing lead guitar in the New York Dolls 😎🎸 - a band that I made 4 records with from 2004-2010.
I'm not really a garage-rock guitar player though - I studied jazz with Ted Dunbar, Kenny Barron, Barry Finnerty, Dennis Sandole and have made a living doing recording sessions & live music work in NYC with folks like Paul Simon, Maceo Parker, Delmar Brown, Peter Wolf, Robert Gordon, Billy Squier, Willy DeVille & others.
I'd love to have a musical chat with you one day...
Cheers!
SC
@cosmicdrifter287
The thing i take away from this excellent interview is how Andy has a very special angle on how he looks at art.I Think that's one of the most important things that makes his paintings and music so exceptional and amazing.Thanks again for another insightful and intelligent conversation Gregg.
@TheProgCast
Thank you and thanks for listening!
@ralphmuller6040
When Andy describes not wanting to kill the magic of a favourite song, like 'Strawberry Fields", by dismembering it into it's component parts completely resonates with me.
@TheProgCast
Me too!
@davel.9467
Thanks for presenting this. Anytime Andy is interviewed, I hang on his every word. He’s not just a National Treasure in his native Great Britain, he’s a planetary treasure. Thanks again 🙏
@TheProgCast
Always a pleasure!
@ganazby
Absolutely delighted to see another interview with Andy. What a treat. Thanks, Gregg.
@TheProgCast
My pleasure! Thanks for tuning in.
@sspbrazil
I can listen to Andy go on about anything, I was anticipating this art book compilation and I’ll have to get myself one. Another great interview Greg. Thanks to you and Andy for this.
@TheProgCast
So glad you enjoyed it. Andy is wonderfully creative.