“Workin’ Man Blues” is Merle Haggard at his most honest — and maybe his most relatable. Released in 1969, the song is a full-throttle salute to the blue-collar men and women who get up every morning, lace up their boots, and do what needs to be done. There’s no sugarcoating here, no fancy poetry. Just grit, sweat, and the kind of pride that comes from knowing you’ve earned every penny in your pocket.
Merle wrote it not as an outsider looking in, but as someone who lived that life. He grew up poor, worked odd jobs before music saved him, and always carried that working-class spirit in his songs. When he sings “I’ll be a workin’ man ’til my dyin’ day”, you believe him — because that’s exactly who he was at the core: a man who valued hard work, honesty, and self-reliance.
Musically, it’s pure country swagger. That driving guitar riff grabs you right away, setting a rhythm that feels like a hammer hitting steel. It’s not just a song to listen to — it’s a song to move to, like the steady rhythm of a shift whistle or the hum of a tractor engine. And while it quickly became a No. 1 hit, it also turned into an anthem, one that countless people still sing as a badge of honor.
What makes “Workin’ Man Blues” timeless is that it doesn’t just celebrate the working man — it dignifies him. In a world where the spotlight often falls on the rich and glamorous, Merle reminded us that the backbone of America has always been its workers. That’s why, all these years later, the song still feels like a handshake, a cold beer after a long day, and a nod to everyone who keeps the wheels turning.
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Lyrics
It’s a big job gettin’ by with nine kids and a wife
Even I’ve been workin’ man, dang near all my life but I’ll keep workin’
As long as my two hands are fit to use
I’ll drink my beer in a tavern
And sing a little bit of these working man blues
But I keep my nose on the grindstone, I work hard every day
Get tired on the weekend, after I draw my pay
But I’ll go back workin’, come Monday morning I’m right back with the crew
I’ll drink a little beer that evening
Sing a little bit of these working man blues
Sometimes I think about leaving, do a little bummin’ around
Throw my bills out the window, catch me a train to another town
But I go back working, I gotta buy my kids a brand new pair of shoes
I’ll drink a little beer that evening
Cry a little bit of these working man blues, here comes workin’ man
Well, hey, hey, the working man, the working man like me
Never been on welfare, and that’s one place I will not be
Keep me working, you have long two hands are fit to use
My little beer in a tavern
Sing a little bit of these working man blues, this song for the workin’ man