Story Behind The Song
I wrote the first two lines of the song one day at my kitchen table, thinking overtly of the Ikc beat (or Bo Diddley beat if you prefer). I finished writing the lyrics and had no idea what the melody would be, and Chainsaw just improvised it in rehearsal
Song Description
Iko-beat blues in which the singer calmly recounts the poor treatement he receives at work under threat of his job being done by workers in another country. The desperation and helplessness are expressed lyrically and in the melancholy tone of the song.
| Song Length |
4:05 |
Genre |
Blues - Modern, Blues - Rural |
| Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Miserable, Passive |
Subject |
Luck/Coincidence, Gambling |
| Similar Artists |
Willie Nelson, Shawn Colvin |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
WORKING MAN'S ROULETTE
Boss told me to shut my mouth
To keep my job from going south
Men down south already know
Their jobs got sent to Mexico
Please don't blame that Mexican
His job got sent to Vietnam
If you want to place a bet
Call it workingman's roulette
All I am is a working man
All I ask is a working chance
Work all day each night I pray
That they don't send my job away
When I dream I get away
To somewhere I will never stay
If you want to place a bet
Call it workingman's roulette
Hey now Hey now
I'm too young to retire
©Steve Pasek, 2004