Working Girl's Blues
Hazel Dickens Lyrics


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Hey I got the early Monday morning working blues
I put on my worn out working shoes
Well the weekend was too short but I can choose
When the lord made the working girl, he made the blues

Well I'm tired of working my life way
And givin someone else all of my pay
While they get rich on the profits that I lose
And leaving me here with the working girl blues

I do oh lay eee Working Girl Blues!
And I can't even afford a new pair of shoes
While they can live in any penthouse they choose
And all I got is the working girl blues

My boss said a raise is due almost any day
But I wonder will my hair be all turned gray
Before he turns that dollar loose and I get my dues
And lose a little bit of these working girl blues

Well I'm tired of working my life way
And givin someone else all of my pay
While they get rich on the profits that I lose
And leaving me here with the working girl blues

I do oh lay eee Working Girl Blues!
And I can't even afford a new pair of shoes




While they can live in any penthouse they choose
And all I got is the working girl blues

Overall Meaning

The song "Working Girl Blues" by Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard is an anthem for women who work endless hours, barely making ends meet, with little help from their employers. The song speaks to the hardships of the working-class women who don't have the luxury of choosing their work or life style, who feel trapped in their jobs, and who desperately long for upward mobility. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the mood and blues-like genre. The singer, already dreading the early Monday morning wake-up call, sings, "Hey, I got the early Monday morning working blues. I put on my worn-out working shoes." The words suggest a sense of monotony and exhaustion with the daily grind, and the use of "worn-out" add to the feeling of hopelessness.


The chorus of the song is a call-and-response between the singers, with the repetition of the phrase "Working Girl Blues" instilling a sense of shared experience and sympathy among the women. The lyrics convey frustration and resentment towards the system that seems rigged against the working class. The lines "And I can't even afford a new pair of shoes, while they can live in any penthouse they choose" express dissatisfaction with a society that allows a few to thrive at the expense of many. In conclusion, the song's lyrics combine excellent storytelling and an emotional resonance to empower and represent the underrepresented working-class women who face the realities of life's struggles.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey I got the early Monday morning working blues
I am feeling down and unmotivated to work on this Monday morning.


I put on my worn out working shoes
I am putting on my well-worn and old shoes to go to work.


Well the weekend was too short but I can choose
The weekend felt brief, but at least I can choose how I go about my work.


When the lord made the working girl, he made the blues
Being a woman who works for a living can be tough to bear.


Well I'm tired of working my life way
I am sick and tired of working like this every day of my life


And givin someone else all of my pay
I feel frustrated that I have to work hard but all the benefit goes to my employer.


While they get rich on the profits that I lose
My boss is getting richer and richer while my pay remains stagnant and I lose out.


And leaving me here with the working girl blues
All this weariness and stress leaves me feeling like I have the blues.


I do oh lay eee Working Girl Blues!
I feel like shouting out my frustration and weariness.


And I can't even afford a new pair of shoes
I cannot even afford to buy myself a new pair of shoes.


While they can live in any penthouse they choose
My boss and those who are taking advantage of me can live in luxurious penthouses if they chose.


And all I got is the working girl blues
All I am left with is this sense of despair and sadness associated with being a working woman.


My boss said a raise is due almost any day
My boss has been saying that a raise is coming soon.


But I wonder will my hair be all turned gray
I am worried that I will wait so long for my raise that my hair will turn grey.


Before he turns that dollar loose and I get my dues
I am anticipating finally being compensated fairly for my work.


And lose a little bit of these working girl blues
If I could just be paid what I am worth, I might be able to shake off some of this working girl blues.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: HAZEL DICKENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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