Workin' For MCA
Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the Florida border, yes, up to Nashville, Tennessee
I worked in every joint you can name, mister, every honky tonk
Along come Mr. Yankee slicker, sayin' "Maybe you're what I want"
Want you to sign your contract
Want you to sign today
Gonna give you lots of moneyWorkin' for MCA
Oh, nine thousand dollars, that's all we could win
But we smiled at the Yankee slicker with a big ol' Southern grin
They're gonna take me out to California, gonna make me a superstar
Just pay me all of my money, mister, maybe you won't get a scar
Want you to sign your contract
Want you to sign today
Gonna give you lots of money
Workin' for MCA
Oh, suckers took my money since I was seventeen
If it ain't no pencil pusher, then it got to be a honky tonk queen
But I'll sign my contract, baby, and I want you people to know
That every penny that I make, I'm gonna see where my money goes
Want you to sign your contract
Want you to sign today
Gonna give you lots of money
Workin' for MCA
Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Workin' for MCA" is a song that tells the story of the band's early struggles, in which they were forced to play in small-time honky tonk bars and clubs before being discovered by MCA Records. The song's opening lines, "Seven years of hard luck, comin' down on me/ From the Florida border, yes up to Nashville, Tennessee," suggests a difficult journey filled with setbacks and struggles. The singer of the song, who is likely the band's frontman and lead vocalist, witnessed this first hand by working in every honky tonk in the region while dreaming of something bigger.
The song takes a turn when a "Mr. Yankee slicker" comes along and offers the band a recording contract. The singer is excited about the prospect of getting paid for their music after years of struggling, as evidenced by the lyrics "Gonna give you lots of money/ Workin' for MCA." But they are also aware of the music industry's notorious reputation for exploiting artists out of their hard-earned money, and are careful to state that they will keep a close eye on where their earnings go.
In summary, "Workin' for MCA" is a tribute to southern rock when it was just getting started. It highlights the realities of a struggling musician's life and the temptation of selling out to the highest bidder who could offer the possibility of getting their music out there. However, despite the potential pitfalls of the music industry, the song's narrator signs the contract and remains determined to keep an eye on their earnings and make their dreams come true.
Line by Line Meaning
Seven years of hard luck, comin' down on me
I have been struggling for seven years from Florida to Nashville.
From the Florida border, yes up to Nashville, Tennessee
I have faced hardships along my journey from Florida to Tennessee.
I worked in every joint you can name, mister, every honky tonk
I have worked in every bar and club there is.
Along come Mr. Yankee slicker, sayin' maybe you're what I want
One day a man approached me saying he could give me what I wanted.
Want you to sign your contract
He wants me to sign a contract.
Want you to sign today
He wants me to sign the contract today.
Gonna give you lots of money
He promises to pay me a lot of money.
Workin' for MCA
I will be working for MCA.
Oh nine thousand dollars, that's all we could win
The only offer I received was for $9,000.
But we smiled at the Yankee slicker with a big ol' Southern grin
Even though the offer was low, we accepted it with a smile.
They're gonna take me out to California, gonna make me a superstar
They promised to take me to California and make me famous.
Just pay me all of my money, mister, maybe you won't get a scar
As long as they pay me what they owe me, there won't be any problems.
Suckers took my money since I was seventeen
I have been ripped off since I was a teenager.
If it ain't no pencil pusher, it got to be a honky tonk queen
Everyone who has taken my money has either been a businessman or a woman in a bar.
But I'll sign my contract baby and I want you people to know
I will still sign the contract, but I want everyone to know my terms.
That every penny that I make, I'm gonna see where my money goes
I will make sure to keep track of all my earnings.
Want you to sign your contract
The man still wants me to sign the contract.
Want you to sign today
He still wants me to sign the contract today.
Gonna give you lots of money
He promises to pay me a lot of money.
Workin' for MCA
I will be working for MCA.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Edward C. King, Ronnie Van Zant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@WalterLittle-vh4mw
The double leads by Rossington and Collins are incredible and then King’s solo kicks ass!
@theonemodifier
Brilliant that they doubled up the same part. So thick!
@williamsannuto8239
Spectacular
@lucedourt4475
That solo make me jump from m'y chair and play air guitar every time 😅
@tonyezar7547
Never get sick of this stuff
@craigjohnson5590
This jam is SOOOOO funky!!!
@goldenagenut
Damn, just listen to how good those guys really were - they absolutely tear it up on this song! Southern rock at it's very finest! WOOOOOOOOOO!!! 🤠
@unnamedself4845
A fuckin right brother
@justinfleming7603
Every song
@davidcoillins8035
This tune will NEVER GET OLD I sincerely mean this I've been listening to it for well over 30 years still crushes like the day it was made