Takin’ Care Of Business by Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Anthem of the Working Class
Lyrics
Take the 8:15 into the city
There’s a whistle up above and people pushin’, people shovin’
And the girls who try to look pretty
And if your train’s on time, you can get to work by nine
And start your slaving job to get your pay
If you ever get annoyed, look at me I’m self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day
And I’ll be takin’ care of business (every day)
Takin’ care of business (every way)
I’ve been takin’ care of business (it’s all mine)
Takin’ care of business and working overtime, work out
If it were easy as fishin’ you could be a musician
If you could make sounds loud or mellow
Get a second-hand guitar, chances are you’ll go far
If you get in with the right bunch of fellows
People see you havin’ fun just a-lying in the sun
Tell them that you like it this way
It’s the work that we avoid, and we’re all self-employed
We love to work at nothing all day
And we be taking care of business (every day)
Takin’ care of business (every way)
We be takin’ care of business (it’s all mine)
Takin’ care of business and working overtime
Mercy
Whoo
Alright, ow
Take good care of my business
When I’m away, every day
Whoo
They get up every morning from their alarm clock’s warning
Take the 8:15 into the city
There’s a whistle up above and people pushin’, people shovin’
And the girls who try to look pretty
And if your train’s on time, you can get to work by nine
And start your slaving job to get your pay
If you ever get annoyed, look at me I’m self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day
And I be takin’ care of business (every day)
Takin’ care of business (every way)
I’ve been takin’ care of business (it’s all mine)
Takin’ care of business and working overtime, take care
Takin’ care of business, whoo
Takin’ care of business
Takin’ care of business (yep)
Takin’ care of business
Takin’ care of business (every day)
Takin’ care of business (every way)
Takin’ care of business (it’s all mine)
Takin’ care of business and working overtime, whoo
Takin’ care of business
Takin’ care of business
We be takin’ care of business
We be takin’ care of business, whoo
Takin’ care of business, oh yeah
Takin’ care of business
Takin’ care of
A juggernaut of the 70s rock scene, Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s ‘Takin’ Care Of Business’ has cemented itself in the rock hall of fame as an indelible anthem of the working man’s dreams and day-to-day realities. Striding beyond its catchy riff and infectious chorus, lies a deeper narrative resonating with the everyman’s pursuit of autonomy and the sweet, ironic allure of the ‘laissez-faire’ work ethic.
The song’s raw energy and driving beat have made it a staple on classic rock playlists, but the core of its lasting appeal is found in the lyrics that so vividly capture the soul of the workforce and the entrepreneur alike. Diving into the song’s narrative offers a study in juxtapositions—between structured labor and the entrepreneurial spirit, the grind and the getaway, the mandated and the self-motivated.
The 9-to-5 Grind vs. The Self-Made Dream
The opening lines paint a picture that’s all too familiar: the alarm clock, the crowded commute, the relentless push through the urban sprawl. Bachman-Turner Overdrive doesn’t just provide a backdrop for the working individual’s morning; they capture the essence of the grind—the quotidian struggle to stay afloat in a system that can feel as stifling as it is necessary.
Yet, as the pre-chorus transitions into the chorus, there’s a shift—viewing the 9-to-5 through the rose-colored glasses of the self-employed renegade. The song contrasts the freedom of being your own boss with the constraints of traditional employment, striking a chord with anyone who’s contemplated breaking away from the humdrum to chase their dreams.
Anthem for the Freelancers and Free Spirits
‘If you ever get annoyed, look at me I’m self-employed. I love to work at nothing all day.’ With these words, Bachman-Turner Overdrive delivers a sly wink to the freelancers and creative spirits who have taken the leap into self-employment—a move as much about controlling one’s destiny as rejecting the rigor of routine.
This song’s chorus has become a clarion call for autonomy in the professional landscape, capturing the essence of the freelance revolution before it even had a name. By celebrating the ability to ‘work at nothing all day,’ it romanticizes the creative process, where apparent idleness can be the most productive state of all.
Behind the Whistle: The Song’s Hidden Meaning
Beyond its surface commentary on the labor market and self-employment, ‘Takin’ Care Of Business’ offers a nuanced look at societal norms and the collective yearning for meaning beyond the paycheck. It underscores the dichotomous relationship between the structure society demands and the creative freedom our souls crave.
The persistent reiteration of ‘Takin’ care of business’ serves as a double entendre—first, as the literal act of working, but also as shorthand for handling one’s affairs, including the pursuit of happiness and fulfillment. It embraces the counter-culture sentiment of defining success on one’s own terms, not just reconciling oneself to the societal treadmill.
The Lure of the Laid-back: Embracing the Mellow
‘If it were easy as fishin’ you could be a musician.’ These lines are a testament to the allure of the easygoing lifestyle that so many covet—a life where passion and leisure blend seamlessly. It’s not just a nod to aspiring rock stars; it’s an ode to any vocation that allows one to ‘lie in the sun,’ making a living by doing what feels less like work and more like pleasure.
Rock history is replete with such odes to the bohemian dream, and ‘Takin’ Care Of Business’ stands tall among them, showcasing that the escape from the nine-to-five need not be a pipe dream, but a legitimate, albeit challenging, alternative.
Memorable Lines that Resonate with the Working Soul
‘And if your train’s on time, you can get to work by nine and start your slaving job to get your pay.’ Without overstated poetry, these lines deliver a raw glimpse into the worker’s life where punctuality and a paycheck are the binding agents of existence. This song mirrors the cyclical nature of the work week—often monotonous, occasionally oppressive, but omnipresent.
These lyrics resonate because they don’t just speak to the nine-to-five laborer but to anyone who’s been caught in the ruthless gears of the working world in any capacity. This connection is likely what has rendered ‘Takin’ Care Of Business’ a timeless piece, echoing through the decades as not just a rock staple, but a cultural manifesto.
