OLD SCHOOL 52: Working Stiffs

Welcome to a special holiday edition of Old School.

All holidays need mixtapes. Especially if they include get togethers, outdoor barbecues, or just some meditation time on how good it feels not to be at work.

Where this is going. You don’t have to be observing Labor Day to listen to a set of songs all about working.  In fact I assembled much of this for a union rally to draw attention to an important strike. So in addition to work songs, you might hear some money songs.

These labor intensive tunes all came about after 1894 when Labor Day became a federal holiday.

 These songs drip with strength, prosperity, and well-being. 

The eight-hour workday didn’t become the modern labor standard by accident. Back when the government first tracked workers’ hours in 1890, they found that full-time manufacturing employees worked a backbreaking 100 hours each week.

Years of pressure from laborer organizers finally paid off. Back in 1835, the Philadelphia carpenters were the first to lay  down their hammers and demand an 8 hour work day. A mere 31 year later On August 20, 1866, it became a reality.

Here a sampling of songs that really work. Some call out specific jobs, some are about overtime, some are about evil bosses, office romances, and stupid work schedules. All these songs and no one has ever written one about the annual performance review

Kick back. Work another day. Enjoy the fruits of the laborers who came before you. Professor Mikey need to grab a paper plate and let the music do the talking while I get a burger and turn up the speaker.. 

Have a fabulous holiday, get a good job, win the lottery. Anything is possible as long as you work at it. Work work work.

This is Old School #52 and it is dedicated to the Working Stiffs…

Labor Day Parade USA

Uber drivers of ancient Rome.

Detroit assembly line

Charlie multitasking

Lunch during Empire State Building construction. Who said “I don’t feel safe?”

Over 310,000 women worked in the U.S. aircraft industry in 1943, making up 65 % of the industry’s total workforce (compared to just 1 percent in the pre-war years). The munitions industry also heavily recruited women workers. [U.S. government’s Rosie the Riveter campaign.]

Prospective employees should examine the benefits package closely.

“Do you have any questions for me?” ”Can I work from home?”

Before cubicles there was less of an opportunity to talk shit about your coworkers during business hours.

“The past is a blast.”

Thanks to DC comics for saving the world as usual.