Styx & REO Speedwagon performed the tracks "Blue Collar Man" and "Roll With… Read Full Bio ↴Styx & REO Speedwagon performed the tracks "Blue Collar Man" and "Roll With the Changes" together on the 2-disc "Styx & REO Speedwagon - Arch Allies: Live at Riverport" live disc from 2000. All other tracks on the discs were performed by the individual bands. Those two songs with both bands also exists as a 2 track promo CD.

In 2009 the bands went on to make a split single, "Can't Stop Rockin'", in order to support their current tour. The single includes, besides the title track, both "Blue Collar Man" and "Roll With The Changes" from the "Arch Allies" album.

Blue Collar Man
Styx & REO Speedwagon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Give me a job give me security
Give me a chance to survive
I'm just a poor soul in the unemployment line
My God I'm hardly alive

My mother 'n 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'm not a charity case

I'll take those long nights, impossible odds
Keeping my eye on 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 respectable man
This is my last time in the unemployment line
So like it or not

I'll take those long night, impossible odds
Keeping my back to the wall
If it takes all night to be just who 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
(repeat chorus)

Overall Meaning

The song "Blue Collar Man" by Styx and REO Speedwagon is an anthem for the working class American. The lyrics express the desperation and frustration of a person who is unemployed and seeking a job to survive. The words "give me a job, give me security, give me a chance to survive" are a plea for a basic standard of living that many people take for granted. The singer in the song feels like a "poor soul in the unemployment line" and is barely alive. He has been laughed at by friends and family for his situation but he knows he is not a charity case and is determined to do whatever it takes to get a job.

The song’s lyrics take a positive turn when the singer says that he has the power and the will to work hard and overcome any obstacles. He has no delusions of grandeur and is willing to take any job that is available, even if it means working long nights and facing impossible odds. He has his eye on the keyhole, meaning that he is focused on the goal and will not be deterred by any setbacks. The chorus repeats the phrase "well I'm gonna be a blue collar man" which is a declaration of his identity as a hard-working American.

Overall, the song expresses the struggles and aspirations of millions of Americans who work hard to make a living. The lyrics encourage people to have faith in themselves and to never give up, even in the face of overwhelming odds. The song is a tribute to the fighting spirit of the working class and is a reminder that hard work and determination can overcome any obstacle.

Line by Line Meaning

Give me a job give me security
I am in need of a steady source of income to provide me with some level of financial stability in life.

Give me a chance to survive
All I am asking for is an opportunity to make it in this world, nothing more and nothing less.

I'm just a poor soul in the unemployment line
I am currently without work and am therefore here, waiting for any potential job openings.

My God I'm hardly alive
I am struggling to survive in this world without a steady source of income.

My mother 'n father, my wife and my friends
My loved ones have all at some point ridiculed my current situation and lack of employment.

You've seen them laugh in my face
They have belittled and mocked me for my current predicament.

But I've got the power and I've got the will
I possess the strength and determination necessary to overcome this difficult situation.

I'm not a charity case
I refuse to be seen as a helpless individual who is reliant on the aid of others to make it in life.

I'll take those long nights, impossible odds
I am willing to endure long hours and take on difficult challenges in order to succeed in life.

Keeping my eye on the keyhole
I am focused and unwavering in my pursuit of success and will not allow myself to lose sight of my goals.

If it takes all that to be just what I am
I am willing to put in the time and effort required to become the person I was meant to be.

Well I'm gonna be a blue collar man
I am determined to succeed in life and make a living through hard work, determination, and a willingness to take on any challenge.

Make me an offer that I can't refuse
I am willing to take on any job opportunity that comes my way, as long as it provides me with the level of security and stability I need.

Make me respectable man
I want to be seen as a hardworking and respected member of society who contributes to the greater good.

This is my last time in the unemployment line
I am determined to turn my life around and make this my final visit to the unemployment office.

So like it or not
Whether or not others believe in me, I am committed to making a better life for myself.

Keeping my back to the wall
I am aware of the challenges that lie ahead of me and am prepared to tackle them head on.

If it takes all night to be just who I am
I am willing to put in the time and effort required to fulfill my potential and become the person I was meant to be.

Keeping my mind on a better life
I am motivated by the desire to create a better life for myself and my loved ones.

Where happiness is only a heartbeat away
I believe that true happiness is within my reach and that I have the power to achieve it.

Paradise can it be all I heard it was
I am hopeful that the future will bring me the happiness and fulfillment that I have been searching for.

I close my eyes and maybe I'm already there
Through hard work and determination, I believe that I can create the life I have always dreamed of and find true happiness.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TOMMY SHAW

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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