Fowler put together a country band in 1998 and began playing Tuesday nights at Babe's on Sixth Street in Austin. Within two years, he'd begun recording albums and struck big with his self-released Beer, Bait and Ammo (2000). The album sold around 30,000 copies in the Texas area and garnered an impressive amount of airplay, particularly for the album's title track. The song became somewhat of a Texas anthem; Mark Chesnutt made the song part of his live show, and Sammy Kershaw recorded it. Fowler returned in 2002 with his third album, High on the Hog, and boasted some impressive guests, including Willie Nelson and David Lee Garza.
J. O. B
Kevin Fowler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well now, no be ll ring-a-linging tellin? me I t?s time
to hit the st reet
Oh, no, don't you kn ock on my door, ?cause I ain't
Tell the bo ss-man I've quit or I've di ed or something
I'm do ing all those things I've always said I wanted
to d o
(chorus)
I don't want no J.O.B.
Bringin' me
Down like a damn dog to my knees
All w ork and no play a in?t no way for me to live
My day's too short, I ain't g ot no time
G ot one life, it?s gonna be mine
Livin? w ild and free, don't w ant no J.O. B.
Well now, the la ndlord?s knocking, o h, I'm in one hell
of a me ss
And I j ust got a letter from the fo lks at the I.R. S.
The bi lls are piled high and the gr ass needs mowin?
Think I?ll ju mp in my truck and just ke ep on goin?
F ind me a place where the drinks are free
And the pr etty girls all love me
(chorus)
Seems a ll I ever do is work these fin gers to the bone
If th is is all that life can offer, I?d ra ther be dead
and gone.
(chorus)
Why ea now, I'm livin? wild and free
don't w ant no J.O. B.
In "JOB," Kevin Fowler sings about not wanting a job that can bring him down and restrict him from living his life the way he wants it to be. He is tired of being on a strict schedule that limits his freedom and doesn't align with his dreams and wishes. He wants to do away with the routine of work and live life on his own terms, without worrying about the bills piling up or the landlord knocking on his door. Fowler implores being free and wild, not held back by responsibilities that come with having a job.
The song speaks to the former and working-class individuals who must work incomparable situations to meet both ends; the harshness and boundaries that come with it can take a heavy toll on their sanity and sense of fulfillment. The lyrics are relatable as it portrays a situation many individuals are stuck in, where they feel like their jobs take over their lives, and they have no time for the things they enjoy. Fowler believes people are better suited to live life being wild and free, not restricted by a job that demands everything from them.
Overall, "JOB" makes a profound statement about how people aspire for a life filled with joy, happiness, and freedom, and how jobs can become an obstacle in achieving that dream. Fowler's lyrics resonate with people looking for a reprieve from their jobs, who desire to live life without any restrictions.
Line by Line Meaning
Eight Monday mornin? and I ?m in my bed asleep
It's early morning and I'm still in bed sleeping, without any intention of getting up to go to work.
Well now, no bell ring-a-linging tellin? me it?s time to hit the street
I don't want to be reminded that it's time for me to start working and to leave home.
Oh, no, don't you knock on my door, ?cause I ain?t coming
I don't want anyone knocking on my door to ask me to go to work because I don't want to go.
Tell the boss-man I've quit or I've died or something
If my boss wants to know why I'm not coming to work, he can think that I've quit or died or anything, but I'm not going to work.
I'm doing all those things I've always said I wanted to do
Instead of going to work, I'm finally doing all the things that I've always wanted to do.
I don't want no J.O.B. Bringin' me down like a damn dog to my knees
I don't want a job to burden me and make me feel like I'm working like a slave.
All work and no play ain?t no way for me to live
I don't want to just work and not have any time to do what makes me happy. That's not a life for me.
My day's too short, I ain't got no time
The day is too short to spend it working all the time. I don't have time to waste on things I don't enjoy.
Got one life, it?s gonna be mine
I only have one life, and I want to live it on my own terms.
Living wild and free, don't want no J.O.B.
I want to live freely, and I don't want a job to restrict me or hold me back.
Well now, the landlord?s knocking, oh, I'm in one hell of a mess
The landlord is knocking, and I'm in trouble because I can't pay my rent, which is a big problem.
And I just got a letter from the folks at the I.R.S.
I've received a letter from the IRS, which means that I'm probably in trouble with the law too.
The bills are piled high and the grass needs mowin?
I have a lot of bills that I can't pay, and my grass is growing, which shows that I'm not taking care of my responsibilities.
Think I?ll jump in my truck and just keep on goin?
I'm going to escape from all my problems by driving away in my truck and not facing any of them.
Find me a place where the drinks are free
I want to go to a place where I can drink for free and not have to worry about anything else.
And the pretty girls all love me
I want to find a place where I'll be accepted by beautiful women and have fun with them.
Seems all I ever do is work these fingers to the bone
It seems like I'm always working hard, and it's taking a toll on me.
If this is all that life can offer, I?d rather be dead and gone.
If working all the time is all that life has to offer, then I'd rather not be alive.
Why ea now, I'm livin? wild and free don't want no J.O.B.
I'm currently living free and without the burden of a job, and I don't want to change that.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@j.r.needham9124
Somebody has got to start listening to ALL Kevin's songs. His fans can make a difference. Y'all put him out there on fb. Hey, Texas owes it to him.
@zacharyborland7669
Right heeeere
@aikaterinichristopoulou9989
this and triple crown are my favourite songs from Kevin thanks for making this
@ashleycisper-cox3672
Eight Monday mornin' and I'm in my bed as leep
Well now, no bell ring-a-linging tellin' me it's time to hit the street
Oh, no, don't you knock on my door, 'cause I ain't coming
Tell the boss-man I've quit or I've died or something
I'm doing all those things I've always said I wanted to do
I don't want no J.O.B.
Bringin' me
Down like a damn dog to my knees
All work and no play ain't no way for me to live
My day's too short, I ain't got no time
Got one life, it's gonna be mine
Livin' wild and free, don't want no J.O.B.
Well now, the landlord's knocking, oh, I'm in one hell of a mess
And I just got a letter from the folks at the I.R.S.
The bills are piled high and the grass needs mowin'
Think I'll jump in my truck and just keep on goin'
Find me a place where the drinks are free
And the pretty girls all love me
I don't want no J.O.B.
Bringin' me
Down like a damn dog to my knees
All work and no play ain't no way for me to live
My day's too short, I ain't got no time
Got one life, it's gonna be mine
Livin' wild and free, don't want no J.O.B.
Seems all I ever do is work these fingers to the bone
If this is all that life can offer, I'd rather be dead and gone.
I don't want no J.O.B.
Bringin' me
Down like a damn dog to my knees
All work and no play ain't no way for me to live
My day's too short, I ain't got no time
Got one life, it's gonna be mine
Livin' wild and free, don't want no J.O.B.
Yea now, I'm livin' wild and free
Don't want no J.O.B.