Blue Collar Man
Styx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give me a chance to survive
I'm just a poor soul in the unemployment line
My God I'm hardly alive
My mother and father, my wife and my friends
You've seen them laugh in my face
But I've got the power and I've got the will
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
Keeping my eye to the keyhole
If it takes (all that to be just what I am)
Well I'm gonna be a blue collar man
Make me an offer that I can't refuse
Make me a respectable man
This is my last time in the unemployment line
So like it or not
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
Keeping my back to the wall
If it takes (all night to be just what I am)
Well I'm gonna be a blue collar man
Keeping my mind on a better life
Where happiness is only a heartbeat away
Paradise can it be all I heard it was
I close my eyes and maybe I'm already there
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
Keeping my back to the wall
(All that to be just what I am)
Well I'm gonna be a blue collar man
You don't understand
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
Keeping my eye to the keyhole
If it takes (all night to be just what I am)
Well I'm bound be a blue collar
Gotta be a blue collar man
Gonna be a blue collar man
Believe it
or not, the lyrics of Styx's song Blue Collar Man are quite deep and reflect the emotions of a man who is struggling to make ends meet. The lyrics are a reflection of the economic struggles faced by many working-class Americans. The song portrays the frustration and desperation of a man who is seeking a job, security, and respectability. The singer feels like he is hardly alive as he stands in the unemployment line looking for a chance to survive.
The song highlights the harsh reality of unemployment and poverty and the stigma that society places on the poor. The singer's friends and family laugh at him because he is struggling to make a living, but he is determined to take those long nights and impossible odds and become a blue-collar man. This shows his resilience and determination to keep pushing forward despite the challenges he faces. Ultimately, the song ends on a hopeful note with the singer imagining a better life for himself where happiness is only a heartbeat away.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me a job, give me security
I am in a difficult situation and desperately need stable employment
Give me a chance to survive
Let me have a fair shot at making a living and sustaining myself
I'm just a poor soul in the unemployment line
I am currently unemployed and struggling
My God I'm hardly alive
My situation is so dire that it feels like I am barely existing
My mother and father, my wife and my friends
My closest loved ones are aware of my difficulties
You've seen them laugh in my face
They have not taken my struggles seriously, even mocking my situation
But I've got the power and I've got the will
Despite the challenges, I am determined to overcome them
I'm not a charity case
I do not want to rely on anyone else's charity but want to earn my own way
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
I am willing to work long and hard even in seemingly impossible situations
Keeping my eye to the keyhole
Focusing intently on the goal at hand
If it takes (all that to be just what I am)
If it requires such effort to become the person I aspire to be
Well I'm gonna be a blue collar man
I will do whatever it takes to become a skilled worker with a stable job
Make me an offer that I can't refuse
Provide me with a compelling job opportunity
Make me a respectable man
Help me become a self-sufficient and respected member of society
This is my last time in the unemployment line
I am desperate to secure a job and avoid returning to the unemployment line
So like it or not
Whether others accept it or not
Keeping my back to the wall
I am prepared to fight against adversity
Keeping my mind on a better life
Despite the difficulties, I am working towards a brighter future
Where happiness is only a heartbeat away
I believe that with hard work and determination, happiness is within my reach
Paradise can it be all I heard it was
Can the perfect life really be as good as it sounds?
I close my eyes and maybe I'm already there
I imagine a better life and believe it is possible
You don't understand
Others may not comprehend the struggles I am facing
Well I'm bound be a blue collar
I am determined to become a blue collar worker
Gotta be a blue collar man
Being a blue collar worker is what I want and need to do
Gonna be a blue collar man
I am going to work hard and become a skilled blue collar worker
Believe it
I am convinced that I can achieve my goals
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOMMY R. SHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind