Working Week were formed in 1983 by guitarist Simon Booth and saxophonist Larry Stabbins, who were previously in post punk outfit Weekend. The duo released their début single "Venceremos ( We Will Win)" the following year, a tribute to Chilean protest singer Victor Jara featuring vocal contributions from Robert Wyatt and Tracey Thorn (from Everything But the Girl). It became the band's sole entry in the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at #64. Singer Julie Tippetts provided vocals for the follow up "Storm of Light".
A début album Working Nights was released in April 1985, with vocalist Juliet Roberts added as a full time member of the band. She also sang on the 1986 album Companeros and Surrender, released in 1987, but left the band after that year's single "Knocking on Your Door". Julie Tippetts returned as vocalist (with other guest vocalists) for the 1989 album Fire in the Mountain, and Yvonne Waite was featured as solo vocalist for 1991's Black and Gold, the band's final studio album.
Politically left-wing, their first album, Working Nights, contained a cover of Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues. Future albums Companeros and Surrender saw them move more towards the mainstream. After Roberts' departure to become a solo artist, they released two further albums with guest vocalists, "Fire in the Mountain" and "Black and Gold".
They appeared on 9 February 1986 at the Royal Albert Hall, in a benefit concert for victims of the 1985 Armero tragedy in Colombia.
The band also briefly featured future Swing Out Sister lead singer Corinne Drewery.
Inner City Blues
Working Week Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Rockets, moon shots
Spend it on the have nots
Money, we make it
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
No, no, no
Inflation no chance
To increase finance
Bills pile up sky high
Send that boy off to die
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Hang ups, let downs
Bad breaks, set backs
Natural fact is
I can't pay my taxes
Oh, make me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Crime is increasing
Trigger happy policing
Panic is spreading
God know where we're heading
Oh, make me wanna holler
They don't understand
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Who are they to judge us
Simply cause we wear our hair long
In Working Week's song Inner City Blues, the lyrics express a deep sense of frustration and disillusionment with the current state of society, particularly as it pertains to the systemic inequalities and injustices faced by people living in the inner city. The repeated refrain of "make me wanna holler" speaks to the intense emotional turmoil experienced by those who feel trapped in a situation that is beyond their control.
The opening lines referencing "rockets" and "moon shots" serve to contrast the technological and scientific advancements of the time with the stark reality of economic inequality, as the singer laments that the wealthy few take advantage of the hard work of the impoverished many. The lyrics go on to describe the various roadblocks faced by people trying to make a living, including inflation, high bills, and the pressure to go to war. Throughout the song, the singer's frustration builds, culminating in the powerful epiphany that "this ain't livin'".
Line by Line Meaning
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Introductory sounds
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Repeating introductory sounds
Dah, dah, dah, dah
More introductory sounds
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Continued introductory sounds
Dah, dah, dah
Even more introductory sounds
Rockets, moon shots
Spending money on technology instead of helping the poor
Spend it on the have nots
Wealth is not distributed fairly, and money is not spent on those in need
Money, we make it
People work hard to earn money
Fore we see it you take it
Before we even get to enjoy the money we earn, the government takes it away in taxes
Oh, make you wanna holler
It's frustrating and makes you want to scream
The way they do my life
The way society treats us
Make me wanna holler
It's so frustrating it makes you want to scream
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
This is not a good way to live
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
This is not a good way to live, baby
No, no, no
No, it's not good
Inflation no chance
Inflation makes it impossible to live comfortably
To increase finance
It's hard to earn more money due to the economy
Bills pile up sky high
Bills keep adding up
Send that boy off to die
Sending young, poor people to war
Hang ups, let downs
Difficulties and disappointments
Bad breaks, set backs
More difficulties and disappointments
Natural fact is
The truth is
I can't pay my taxes
It's hard to make ends meet when so much money goes towards taxes
Oh, make me wanna holler
It's so frustrating it makes you want to scream
And throw up both my hands
Giving up and feeling helpless
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
It's so frustrating it makes you want to scream
Crime is increasing
The amount of crime is going up
Trigger happy policing
Police officers using excessive force
Panic is spreading
Fear is becoming more prevalent
God know where we're heading
We don't know what the future holds
They don't understand
Others don't understand our struggles
Mother, mother
Addressing one's mother, calling for guidance and help
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Others don't agree with our way of life
Who are they to judge us
Why do they have the right to judge us?
Simply cause we wear our hair long
Simply because of our appearance
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Marvin Gaye, James Nyx
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rose Petal
Loved all the British music of the 80s. So many artists were influenced by American R 'n' B/Soul. Such an amazing musical decade, rich with unique points of view!
Philippe Celibert
Quel souvenir ce titre ! J'adore cette version qui me rappelle un séjour extraordinaire dans le Londres des 80s.
J Eshun
Dedicating this to the life of Simon Booth former band member who has passed aged 67, this track features Juliet Roberts on vocals
Pitti Platsch
the best from Working Week..
Warri Boy
Love this got the Bossa version on 7 inch.
Simon Siggers
Working week working nights was and is a classic album jiles Peterson as much as don't enjoy his 3 till 6 set on Saturday played it as his chosen alb back to front
Michela Mulieri
thamk so much! Yesterday I listened this song in "A most violent year" and now I'm here
MegaMissfitz
Is now a good time to tell you ive never stopped all week! Absolutley Smashed my previous lifting & shifting & wheelin n dealin records! & theres still 2 days to go! But enough about me! hope uve smashed all ur medical checks! Sweet dreams 😘😘😘
Tower of Power
INNER CITY BLUES pieseň od WORKING WEEK bola coververziou hitu americkeho speváka Marvina Gaye, ktorý bol v rebríčku Billboardu deväť týždňov od 9. oktobra 1971 aod 6. novembra 1971 obsadil 9.m. v čase, keď na vrchole rebríčka bola pieseň Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves od Cher, žiaľ deň pred 45. narodeninami ho 1. apríla 1984 po hádke zastrelil vlastný otec Marvin v dome na South Grammercy 2101 v Los Angeles, v novembri 1984 bol jeho otec odsúdený na päť rokov odňatia slobody
oilingup
Looks like The Bronx, but that's actually London, England