Big Boss Man
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
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Big boss man can't you hear me when I call
Well you ain't so big oh you're just tall that's all ha ha ha
Yeah you got me workin' boss man a workin' around the clock
I gotta have a little drink of water gonna make you to ball a drop
Big boss man oh can't you hear me when I call
Well you ain't so big oh you're just tall that's all ha ha ha yeah
Yeah you got me workin' boss...
Well you ain't so big yeah you're just a little bit tall that's all yeah yeah yeah
Big boss man
Jerry Lee Lewis's song Big Boss Man is a blues-tinged rock and roll track first recorded in 1960. The song's lyrics describe the singer's frustrations with his boss, who he repeatedly addresses as "big boss man." The refrain, "Big boss man can't you hear me when I call," is a plea for recognition and acknowledgement from the singer's superior. Throughout the song, the singer laments his job as a laborer and the indignities he must endure, such as working "around the clock" and being denied a "little drink of water." Despite the hardships he faces, however, the singer maintains a sardonic sense of humor, as evidenced by the repeated line, "Well you ain't so big oh you're just tall that's all ha ha ha."
On one level, the lyrics can be interpreted as a straightforward critique of the exploitation of workers by those in power. The singer's frustration with his boss, who seems indifferent to his plight, speaks to the broader issue of income inequality and the struggles faced by working-class Americans. But the song can also be read as a more existential meditation on the nature of power and the ways in which it corrupts. The repeated refrain, "Big boss man can't you hear me when I call," is a desperate attempt to connect with someone seemingly beyond the singer's reach, a recognition of the ways in which the powerful often ignore the needs and desires of those beneath them.
Line by Line Meaning
Big boss man can't you hear me when I call
I am addressing you, the big boss man, asking if you can hear me when I speak to you.
Well you ain't so big oh you're just tall that's all ha ha ha
I am mocking you, acknowledging your height but also implying that you are not as powerful or influential as you think you are.
Yeah you got me workin' boss man a workin' around the clock
I am expressing my frustration that you have me working constantly, with no rest or break.
I gotta have a little drink of water gonna make you to ball a drop
I am saying that I need to take a quick break for water and it will not delay my work for very long.
Big boss man oh can't you hear me when I call
I am repeating my original question, emphasizing my desire for you to acknowledge my presence and listen to me.
Well you ain't so big oh you're just tall that's all ha ha ha yeah
I am repeating my earlier mockery, once again implying that your stature does not equate to your level of authority or power.
Yeah you got me workin' boss...
I am continuing to express my frustration with being constantly overworked by you as my boss.
Well you ain't so big yeah you're just a little bit tall that's all yeah yeah yeah
I am once again belittling your authority, stating that your height is the only thing that makes you appear to have any power over me.
Big boss man
I am addressing you again as the big boss man, but this time with a tone of resignation rather than frustration or mockery.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dixon Luther, Al Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind