Poverty drove the Dickens to move to the Baltimore, Maryland area when Dickins was nineteen. There she met Mike Seeger, younger brother of Pete Seeger and founding member of the New Lost City Ramblers and became active in the Baltimore-Washington area bluegrass and folk music scene during the 1960s. During this time she also established a collaborative relationship with Mike Seeger's wife, Alice Gerrard, and as "Hazel & Alice" recorded two albums for the Folkways label: "Who's That Knocking (And Other Bluegrass Country Music) (1965)" and "Won't You Come & Sing for Me (1973)". In this regard, Dickens and Gerrard were bluegrass bandleaders at a time when the vast majority of bluegrass bands were led by men.
Dickens appeared in the documentary Harlan County, USA and also contributed four songs to the soundtrack of the same film. She has also appeared in the film Matewan.
Dickins continues to record and perform all of her life. Her voice is among the most powerful and moving of all bluegrass singers, male or female.
Hazel Dickens died April 22, 2011 at the Washington Home hospice in the District. She was 75 and had complications from pneumonia. Bless you old girl.
Working Girl Blues
Hazel Dickens Lyrics
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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
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
In Hazel Dickens's song, "Working Girl Blues", she sings about the struggles a working-class woman faces. She begins the song by describing the feeling of going to work on a Monday morning with the blues as the weekend was too short, and she has to put on her old working shoes. The lyrics then illustrate her disappointment with life as a working woman, where she works hard yet receives only a meager salary, while someone else gets rich on her efforts. She constantly worries about whether her boss keeps his promises and gives her a raise as she continues to work hard to make ends meet.
Dickens then cries out with frustration that she can't afford new shoes, while the wealthy can live in luxurious penthouses. The song highlights the hardship of being a woman and working tirelessly for a small income. As a result, she can't escape the "working girl blues."
Overall, the lyrics to "Working Girl Blues" paint a picture of the tough life that many women experience as they work for a living. Dickens's powerful words and the feeling in her voice are a reminder of the struggles women have faced in the past and the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey I got the early Monday morning working blues
I am experiencing the blues of working early on Monday mornings.
I put on my worn out working shoes
I wear my old shoes reserved for work.
Well the weekend was too short but I can choose
Although the weekend seems short, I decide how to spend my time.
When the lord made the working girl, he made the blues
Working girls have inherent blues that came with their creation by the Lord.
Well I'm tired of working my life way
I'm exhausted by working all my life.
And givin someone else all of my pay
I give away all my earnings to somebody else.
While they get rich on the profits that I lose
While they gain profits, I end up losing.
And leaving me here with the working girl blues
I'm left with the blues of being a working girl.
I do oh lay eee Working Girl Blues!
I declare that I'm experiencing the Working Girl Blues!
And I can't even afford a new pair of shoes
I can't even buy a new pair of shoes.
While they can live in any penthouse they choose
While they can live in fancy penthouses of their choice.
And all I got is the working girl blues
I'm left with only the blues of being a working girl.
My boss said a raise is due almost any day
My boss mentioned that I'll get a raise soon.
But I wonder will my hair be all turned gray
I worry if I'll become old waiting for that raise.
Before he turns that dollar loose and I get my dues
Before I get my deserved pay, the boss must let go of a dollar.
And lose a little bit of these working girl blues
I hope to get rid of a tiny portion of my constant blues related to my job.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HAZEL DICKENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind