Work’n Man is my take on a Latin-inspired groove—where every chord seems to have that unmistakable rhythm. As Donovan told me, you don’t even need to play full chords; a flat pick alone can carry the feel.
The lyrics were inspired by an offhand comment I overheard in a used bookstore: “Someday I’ll just be another dead white guy.” That line stuck with me, eventually finding its way into the song.
I had planned to re-record the vocals at a higher pitch. In the recording studio, as the guitar player was getting ready to lay down his parts, the engineer played my home demo. He turned up the volume, looked at me, and said, “Leonard Cohen.” I didn’t realize at first—it was a compliment. That moment cemented the song’s vibe, and I kept the original vocal tone.
Hear the story, creative process, and of course, Work’n Man.
Let me know what you think!
SHOW NOTES
Lyrics & Song Stories
On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lyrics-Song-Stories-Daniel-Isle/dp/0979468566
Daniel Isle Sky
Website: https://danielislesky.com/
Listen on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1spNvhRAUaIrFsVfmA2Amk
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/daniel-isle-sky/ARJ2g3vVghrqtzm
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/daniel-isle-sky/528753139
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK99j3abVB1UupLNOwajnow
Work’n Man
© 2015 by Daniel Isle Sky
They build big houses
Cost lots of money
Like big cages
They can never leave
Work’n day and night
Twenty-five paying it green
What does it all mean
Has anyone come clean
He says someday he’ll just be
Another dead white guy
Paycheck says today he is
A working man
Driving new cars
It’s the right thing to do
Dreaming on fast wages
Flying though the zoo
Driving day and night
Where does it get you
Are you happy maybe
Or barely making it through
Around here If she asks
What do you do
Just be cool and hazy and not
A working man
T.V. the silver screen
Takes you everywhere to
What they want you to see
Who they want you to be
Harvard and scholars
Framed papers on the wall
Who’s the smarter
A working man
