Song of the Day: Take This Job and Shove IT

Nov 2, 2006 at 11:48 PM
9 comments

Someone I once worked with when I interned at a newspaper back in 1998 told me this: "You have to kill a little of your true spirit to get up and go to work every day." It was a dour assessment of the working life, but one that's stayed with me through the years. He also once told me to reject being "steamrolled by institutional prose and the people who propagate it."

OK Steve from the newspaper in Fort Wayne: Almost 10 years on, I accept your challenge.

This is my way of saying I quit. Tomorrow I'm resigning my job writing soul-crushing content.

Here's a good cover of a song I've always loved, done right by the Dead Kennedys. Listen here.

Bedtime for Democracy

Dead Kennedys

While we're at it, here are my top five "I hate this job" songs, in no particular order.

1. Take this Job, natch

2. Slackmotherfucker, Superchunk

3. God Damn Job, Replacements

4. Cheap Reward, Elvis Costello "Just remember you'll only be the boss so long as you pay my wage"

5. Career Opportunities, The Clash

Perhaps I'll compile an F-this job mix tape. And other thoughts kids?

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"slackmotherfucker" got me through many a long evening after slinging coffee for assholes. i prefer fIREHOSE's cover, though. i'm searching for a clip, and will post it if i find one.

okay, here we go: i uploaded a live mp3 from, coincidentally, the day after my nineteenth birthday over at hotrod central. in all seriousness, it gave me great pleasure much of the time to cast misha in the title role. and that was the best job i ever had. go figure.

[this is good]

resignation is always the best career move you can ever make,

nice choice of tune also.

Mr. Suit. I like the New Bomb Turks' cover better than the Wire version.

[this is good]

Are you telling the Advisory thingy to fuck off??

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Congratulations Emma! Change is always, always good. And it's just rad when someone gets the gumption to quit their job.

Also, another great work-type song Jeff Tweedy's version of "Dear Employer."

What about Dolly Parton, "Nine to Five"?

this is pushing the envelope a bit, but i would also submit the old 97's 'over the cliff:' "success on someone else's terms don't mean a fucking thing."

oh, and congratulations, by the way.