The Story
Life: The Musical is an original aFa production is a journey featuring songs of about life. Each act features an aspect of life as a theme with music supplied around that theme.
Program (Past Posts)
Act 1: Life
Act 2: Born
Act 3: Names
Act 4: Young
Act 5: Dream
Act 6: Teens
Act 7: School
Act 8: Adulthood
Act 9
Life … the time for the living to live. One’s life starts when one is born. Shortly thereafter, we are given something that stays with us no matter where we go – a name. Immediately, we are nourished, so we grow physically, mentally, and emotionally from babies into young children … and that’s when we start to dream about our future life. Growth never stops, so from children we move on as teens .. but school is still much of life at this point.
Eventually, we move into adulthood as women and men, and the work world is a prominent feature in life. Act 9 is about work, so song titles must include Work, Worked, Working, Worker, Job, or any occupation. IMPORTANT: an occupation can only be used once.
Production Note
To prevent browsers crashing from loading too many videos, please 1) include the song title and artist in your text, and 2) paste the URL as part of your last line (not a new line). The latter will provide a link, thus not embed the actual video … but I don’t mind unembedding, so apologies are not necessary.
Announcement
Ladies and gentlemen, there are many choices applicable for this act, but finding this vintage (1972) video from a classic group sealed the deal. Besides, some of the visitors here are musicians that have been in bands. To open Act 9, the greatest band that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame continues to avoid …. it’s the Moody Blues with I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band.
A Frank Angle 
I’m getting in quick Frank – as a person who is not good at remembering song titles – here is the first one that popped into my head Dolly Parton’s ‘Workin’ Nine to Five’ This version features her with Melissa Etheridge 🙂 http://youtu.be/cMRXWaXkMSI
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Good shtufffs, I like this version. I was going to google the year the movie was released but the answer would in all likelihood make me feel even more like a fossil.
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Oh yes … Hudson Howlosaurus.
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Pauline,
Congrats on being the first song! … and actually doing it a day later (:) … you know, the Date Line thing). Meanwhile, that’s always a song to enjoy, but this is the first time seeing this version. Awesome!
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There so’ooooooooooo many to snatch and put here, I see a Springsteen Love Fest in the horizon. But am in a per-celebratory mood and this if fun. Doug and Slugs, “Makin’ It Work’ and its a toe tapper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwwPmNWQfIY from the album ‘Music For The Hard of Thinking’, good night one and all.
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Hudson,
I didn’t know this Canadian toe tapper, … and the video is a hoot. Thanks for the gem.
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Well here is my offering, I love this young woman Valerie June, Working Woman’s Blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ywuF-N8xXQ
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Val,
This must be one of your favs because if memory serves me correctly, you used this song before (which is ok) … probably in the act featuring songs with man/men/woman/women.
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I have used the artist before, not sure I used this particular song. You are right though I do love Valerie June.
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This one is for my kids – Gigglebellies’ version of “I’ve Been Working On the Railroad” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyzifBF6h1w
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This Devo remake of “Working in a Coal Mine” from 1981, a song originally recorded by Lee Dorsey in 1966, Frank (but I bet you knew that), sums up how I often feel about The Grind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAzAucMOE0s
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Lame,
Now there’s a classic song … but I wasn’t aware of the Devo version, so good twist. Thanks for the reminder that Lee Dorsey did the original, so here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA3Royf9_zM … plus this version from The Muppets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaExh7Yx4Aw
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I’m a Donna Summer fan, Frank. So this wasn’t a hard choice … She Works Hard for the Money … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK4Q9J01FQs 🙂
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Ahhh that was the first one that popped to my head.
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Debra,
Gotta love Donna Summer … great pipes! … and a song that gets one movin’!!!
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I was thinking about Men At Work, but I guess that doesn’t work, since it’s the name of the group. So my second choice is Donna Summer, She Works Hard For The Money: http://youtu.be/MX7MbG6MiQs
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X,
Great song, but Debra had it just in front of you (thus you may not have seen her comment) … so here’s on for you as I switch to an occupation … here’s a 1975 version of Eric Clapton doing I Shot the Sheriff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMyC82XbHXs
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I guess she posted the comment while I was looking for the clip and listening to the song.
Ok, plan B: the Beatles, Paperback Writer: http://youtu.be/taADLPtyDb0
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That song from the Fab 4 wasn’t on my radar …. love it!
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My first time joining in here! Working on the Highway, Bruce Springsteen… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJKFBzLIL0o
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Vanessa,
Cheers to your first musical addition … I get the most fun because I listen to all the songs … so come back to listen. … and Hudson previously predicted a Springsteen song fest, so thanks for getting it started!
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I’ve missed this.
I gotta bring Miss Janis Joplin (Work Me Lord) before someone else does: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-irXmqIzGA
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Leo,
Now that’s vintage Janis! … Thanks for the throwback in time.
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Nice to see around Frank!
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… and likewise.
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Here are two:
1 very very popular: The Beatles: We Can Work it Out – The Beatles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtFUNehnQ2I and
2 a flash from the 80’s from the first [almost reject] album of one of my favorite bands: Ministry: Work For Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TTGH4_-Ysw
Have a great Thursday, my friend! 🙂
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…and thank you for the brilliant Moody Blues video! 🙂
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Thanks …. and seeing footage from back in the day is a hoot!
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Marina,
Alright … can’t go wrong with The Beatles … and love the throwback to the 80s … besides, I didn’t know the song or the group … I enjoy it!
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Here’s a tribute to the worthy occupation of WOODCHOPPING! Woody Herman’s “Woodchopper’s Ball.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PcvT15IJ3g
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Tim,
Excellent choice … and glad to see you returning to your jazz roots.
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OK, does this one count? Frankie Valli and hte Four Seasons, Workin’ my Way Back To you — could be a song about a hooker, I guess … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyksMNZPxjM
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Elyse,
Listening as I respond … awesome song … hooker or not, it fits the criteria. Many thanks!
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I’m going to go a bit out of the box with this one Frank – Monty Python’s The Lumberjack Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZa26_esLBE
Please ‘fix’ my link if needed, thanks!
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Alex,
That is great … perfect for a lunch-time howl!
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This one has always served as an icon for real work. “Working on the Chain Gang” by Sam Cooke https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=f5lYNgCVwFo
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John,
Love the song … oddity is that I had this one tagged for tomorrow’s post … even the same video! Oh well … I’ll find a different song because there are plenty.
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Aw. Sorry about that. 😦
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Yeah!!! “Life” is back! Just a quick check-in, so I’ll be back in the morning to read and listen, maybe even a selection.
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Vic,
Glad you enjoy these. While you are looking for a song, here’s a bit of funk from the 1970s … Work to Do by the AWB … Average White Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w8wEuqhf_8
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Here’s an oldie, George Gershwin “Nice Work if You Can Get it.” I believe it is sung by Ella Fitzgerald. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PONpFSB6a0I
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Catherine,
Good choice …. and good to get a different genre.
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How about this one? (Witch Doctor – David Seville & the Chipmunks) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmjrTcYMqBM
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RoSy,
Now there’s one I didn’t expect! … but I thought you would use this one by Elvis … Working on the Building … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm7ArXQUSAM … PS … In the future, don’t forget to include the title and artist in the comment. Thanks.
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Love that song & by ELVIS – A very upbeat gospel song!
Eek- yes teacher. 😉
{Hugs}
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Thanks …. The reason is so others can see the songs listed (thus my attempt to avoid duplication). 🙂
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I’m new here, so I don’t know all the rules….but this offering can’t be about anything but work:
“Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford! m.youtube.com/watch?v=Joo90ZWrUkU
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Cynthia!!!
A special welcome to you up in Maine via Mary’s.
Because you are new, you won’t receive a scolding or a buzzer … after all, Sixteen Tons is one of the great work songs! In the act, I always list the acceptable words that must be in the title of the song. In this act, Work, Worked, Working, Worker, Job, or any occupation were the keywords .. .thus Act 10 will be different words as this musical moves through life.
Here’s a song from me to you that fits the theme … Painter Song by Norah Jones … Painter (an occupation) hasn’t been used yet, and now can’t be used again in this act. Enjoy … and welcome! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVI4wASoNcc
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That’s lovely, thank you.
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Glad you enjoyed it!
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I got one for ya! You got to have this one in your collection. It’s kind of an anti-work song: Todd Rundgren – Bang The Drum All Day – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guUS3_h2Ybc
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Amy,
A good song … and one with a work-related thing – but the title doesn’t fit the criteria .. so …
However, being a benevolent dictator, here’s one for you … Teacher I need You (Elton John) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCTcjaHyJws
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Whaa!!! How could forget the rules, Frank?! I’ll get it next time!
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Late to the party as usual, but I didn’t see this one mentioned Jim Croce, Working At The Car Wash Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwuP7ILX32E
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Fasab,
Maybe late to the party, but you brought an unexpected surprise!
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I’m late to the party, too. I’m going with Housework by the B52’s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhoniXwX0x0. Because my current occupation is housewife. 🙂
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Robin,
I just conferred with the producer/director … and this one passes the test … as a matter of fact, it was a point of discussion during pre-production meetings.
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Moody Blues!!!
Oh, hmmmm? Agriculture? That done? FIngers crossed…
Farmer in the Dell? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzqIiEti3h8
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Mouse,
Well well .. oh the Farmer in the Dell … I must admit that I didn’t expect that one, so thanks for the surprise.
FYI: Of course we’ve all heard stories and jokes about the farmer’s daughter, but the Beach Boys actually did a song with that title. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EUrKOTshIM
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I was late and trying to think of occupational openings..YEA!
(Gotta love those Beach Boys!)
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… and I didn’t know that BB song.
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Here’s a great Canadian band from Newfoundland called Great Big Sea this song is called The Chemical Worker’s Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edAxujKev1I
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