About The Song
In the annals of country music, there are songs that speak to the heart, songs that paint vivid pictures of rural life, and songs that capture the essence of love and loss. And then there are songs that embody rebellion, songs that give voice to the frustrations and disillusionment of the working class, songs that challenge the status quo and demand to be heard. Johnny Paycheck’s “Take This Job and Shove It” is one such song.
Released in 1977, this outlaw country anthem became an instant sensation, topping the country charts and resonating with a generation of blue-collar workers who felt undervalued and unappreciated. Paycheck, with his gruff voice and no-nonsense attitude, was the perfect vessel for this song, delivering its message with a raw authenticity that was both defiant and heartbreaking.
“Take This Job and Shove It” is a song about a man who has had enough. He’s tired of being treated like a cog in the machine, of being bossed around and underpaid. He’s tired of the long hours, the thankless work, and the feeling that he’s never going to get ahead. So, he does what any self-respecting man would do: he tells his boss to shove it and walks out the door.
The song’s lyrics are simple and direct, but they pack a powerful punch. Paycheck doesn’t mince words; he tells it like it is. He sings about the “bossman” who “chides me like a child” and the “paperwork that piles up high.” He talks about the “sore back” and the “aching feet” and the feeling that he’s “lost his pride.”
But most of all, Paycheck sings about the freedom that comes from walking away from a job that doesn’t respect you. He sings about the dignity of standing up for yourself and refusing to be treated like dirt. He sings about the hope that maybe, just maybe, there’s something better out there.
“Take This Job and Shove It” is more than just a country song; it’s a anthem for anyone who has ever felt undervalued, overworked, or unappreciated. It’s a reminder that we all have the right to be treated with respect and dignity, no matter what job we do. It’s a song that says, “I’m not going to take it anymore. I’m taking my life back.”
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Lyric
Take this job and shove itI ain’t working here no moreMy woman done left and took all the reasonI was working forYou better not try to stand in my wayAs I’m a-walkin’ out the doorTake this job and shove itI ain’t working here no moreI’ve been workin’ in this factoryFor now on fifteen yearsAll this time I watched my womanDrownin’ in a pool of tearsAnd I’ve seen a lot of good folk dieThat had a lot of bills to payI’d give the shirt right offa’ my backIf I had the guts to sayTake this job and shove itI ain’t working here no moreMy woman done left and took all the reasonI was workin’ forYou better not try to stand in my wayAs I’m a-walkin’ out the doorTake this job and shove itI ain’t workin’ here no moreWell that foreman, he’s a regular dogThe line boss, he’s a foolGot a brand new flattop haircutLord, he thinks he’s coolOne of these days I’m gonna’ blow my topAnd that sucker, he’s gonna’ payLord, I can’t wait to see their facesWhen I get the nerve to sayTake this job and shove itI ain’t working here no moreMy woman done left and took all the reasonI was workin’ forYou better not try to stand in my wayAs I’m a-walkin’ out the doorTake this job and shove itI ain’t workin’ here no moreTake this job and shove it