The 4/4 beating of the bass drums recalls the American ideal of onward and upward, turning our prevailing spirits to the sky after a reaching the end of the land. The 4-barreled onslaught can be a train building up steam right behind you, the king of the jungle chasing you down, or your wheels on the highway. It’s the soundtrack of America moving forward.
Delta blues, classic rock, and a lifetime of attentive listening have produced a sound whose time has come. The energetic and powerful delivery of this band cannot be overstated. Their huge, soulful anthems leave nothing on the floor as Gabriel Douglas’ guttural howl soars through the ether.
There’s a readiness to be found in listeners now. The fervor of discovery and innovation is coming back to the American masses and the excitement surrounding the birth of rock & roll is now roaring out of the doldrums with a fury. Let go. Take flight. Indulge in life’s pleasures and stomp with them.
Workin' Man Zombie
The 4onthefloor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You been searching for answers to try prove you're right
But that ball & chain you wear
Keeps you on the ground
Yeah, that ball and chain you wear keeps you right here
Down on the ground and that′s right there want ya
You be workin' & slavin' your whole life away
You be workin′ & slavin' all the hours
And that ball & chain that you wear
Keeps you right down here among us, babe
There ain′t nothing else you can do about it
There's so many links I can′t even begin to count 'em
You've been standing out like a stick in the mud
But some days you feel more like a cot damn lightning rod
You got more coursing through your veins than you′ll ever admit
Yeah, you put in the blood &
You put in the sweat and they will surely give you the spit
Right between the eyes
You be workin′ & slavin' your whole life away
Pushin′ & Pushin' & pushin′ & nothing
You be workin' & slavin′ your whole hours
And those chains that you wear
Keeps you right here on the ground, baby
I saw you yesterday, your eyes were completely gazed over
Nobody was home
You know, it's like there was no lights on, nobody's home baby
You′re a workin′ man zombie
That's all you are
The 4onthefloor's song Workin' Man Zombie is a lament on the plight of the modern worker in society. The lyrics speak of a person who has been walking around their whole life, searching for answers to prove they are right. However, the ball and chain they wear, which represents their job or societal obligations, keep them stuck on the ground. The lyrics suggest that the person is aware of their situation but is in a state of resignation, with no other options available to them.
The song paints a bleak picture of the life of a worker who puts in their blood and sweat but is never rewarded for their hard work. The chains they wear may be invisible, but they are just as strong as any physical chains. The lyrics imply that the person is trapped and has no control over their life. The chorus 'You be workin’ & slavin’ your whole life away' reinforces the idea that the person is stuck in a cycle of work and has no way out.
Overall, the song highlights the destructive nature of the societal pressures and expectations put on individuals. The song is a call to action for workers to break free from their chains and take control of their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
You be(en) walkin′ around all your life
You have spent your entire existence wandering aimlessly
You been searching for answers to try prove you're right
You have searched for solutions to validate your beliefs
But that ball & chain you wear
However, the burden that you carry
Keeps you on the ground
Restricts you from reaching your full potential
Yeah, that ball and chain you wear keeps you right here
Indeed, the weight that you bear limits your aspirations
Down on the ground and that′s right there want ya
It conforms you to societal expectations and keeps you content with mediocrity
You be workin' & slavin' your whole life away
You have devoted your entire existence to laboring
Pushin′ & Pushin′ & pushin' & nothing
Pushing yourself non-stop with little to no reward
And that ball & chain that you wear
And that heavy burden that you bear
Keeps you right down here among us, babe
Prevents you from advancing beyond your peers
There ain't nothing else you can do about it
There are no feasible solutions to alleviate your situation
There's so many links I can′t even begin to count 'em
The burden that you carry is multifaceted and overwhelming
You've been standing out like a stick in the mud
You have been sticking out like a sore thumb, unable to conform
But some days you feel more like a cot damn lightning rod
Some days you feel like a target for criticism and scrutiny
You got more coursing through your veins than you′ll ever admit
You have an immense amount of talent and passion that you conceal
Yeah, you put in the blood &
Yes, you have invested a significant amount of effort
You put in the sweat and they will surely give you the spit
But your hard work may not be appreciated and may even be mocked
Right between the eyes
Directly to your face
And those chains that you wear
And that heavy burden that you bear
Keeps you right here on the ground, baby
Prevents you from rising above your circumstances
I saw you yesterday, your eyes were completely gazed over
I observed you and noticed that you were devoid of any passion or drive
Nobody was home
You appeared to be disconnected from reality
You know, it's like there was no lights on, nobody's home baby
It was as if you were living without any purpose or direction
You′re a workin′ man zombie
You have become a monotonous and lifeless drone due to your work
That's all you are
Your identity has been consumed by your job, leaving nothing else behind
Contributed by Bentley D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MrDacaimmel
Good stuff right there!! Also the picked tune for Duck Dynasty dvds
@Thebigguy1112
This song makes me happy-happy
@snowbrain
Speaks to all of us workin' man zombies!
@TheDadofThem
Cool song! Great raw, abrasive, crunchy sounding guitar. And these guys can play!
And besides, isn't Sharp Dressed Man getting old after hearing it 1,233 times since the 80s. (I know I'm tired of it...and I'm a ZZTop fan!)
GO GUYS!! RIP IT UP!!
@Zacbacon
O Minnesota! How I miss your amazing vibes and music. 89.3 and bands like this are what makes this state the best in the country.
@jillzi7
Thank Duck Dynasty who led me here.
@Omega5Weapon
I have to say that i feel like i can relate to the message of the song. Big retail corporations want to open their stores earlier and earlier every year for black friday and keep open during National holidays. The words Thanksgiving mean nothing to them because they are probably going to be at home with their families while the rest of us work our asses off so they can stay afloat.
@onecylanderracer
I always find myself bored with music and then somehow I always land on 4OTF and it works every time
@barbelder7620
I love this song!!!
@mireillesteckel3751
You are very very hard to find! It took me like 30 minutes looking online and that a lot for now a days. Awesome song!!