Songs about Vocation

I’ve always loved this song of work ethic and joy.

It’s My Job
By: Mac McAnally
recorded by Jimmy Buffett
1970
In the middle of late last night I was sittin’ on a curb
I didn’t know what about, but I was feelin’ quite disturbed
A street sweeper came whistlin’ by, he was bouncin’ every step
It seemed strange how good he felt, so I asked him while he swept

Chorus:
He said, “It’s my job to be cleaning up this mess
And that’s enough reason to go for me
It’s my job to be better than the rest
And that makes a day for me.”

I got an uncle who owns a bank, he’s a self-made millionaire
He never had anyone to love, never had no one to care
He always seemed kinda sad to me and I asked him why that was
And he told me it’s because in my contract there’s this clause

Chorus:
That says, “It’s my job to be worried half to death
And that’s the thing people respect in me
It’s my job but without it I’d be less
Than what I expect from me.”

Now I’ve been lazy most all my life writin’ songs and sleepin’ late
And any manual labor I’ve done was purely by mistake
If street sweepers can smile then I’ve got no right to feel upset
But sometimes I still forget
‘Til the lights go on and the stage is set
And the song hits home and you feel that sweat

Chorus:
It’s my job to be different than the rest
And that’s enough reason to go for me
It’s my job to be better than the rest
And that’s a rough break for me

Chorus:
It’s my job to be cleaning up this mess
And that’s enough reason to go for me
It’s my job to be better than the rest
And that makes the day for me

– Notes:
Background Vocals: Mac McAnally, J.D. Souther

Thanks very much for the kind words, Dr. Veith! Eric and I are quite flattered by the attention–after all, the song was, I believe, at least partly inspired by your own writings. We have a copy of the first edition of The Spirituality of the Cross, which I’m almost positive was in Eric’s hands before he wrote the song. This doctrine lifted a weight off Eric’s shoulders when he was laboring along at a job he really didn’t enjoy.

May God richly bless the good work you do!

This is not a song about vocation, but it is a song for those who have the vocation of protecting unborn babies, or of at least drawing attention to their plight:

sung to the mournful tune of “You Are My Hiding Place”:

Where is her right to life
Her right to liberty
And her pursuit of happiness
Oh, when are you gonna listen,
America?
A-mer-i-ca
Deliver her from death
A-mer-i-ca.

I used to walk around the abortion clinic singing it when I was unknown; then I became known as a musician in the schools and in our city, and I don’t do that anymore. Either I no longer feel that that is my vocation, or I chickened out. (It helped to be pregnant while singing it, and I am far removed from that stage.) 🙂 Maybe there are others who want to carry that flame.

“Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” by Billy Joel. A wry bit of commentary on those for whom working themselves to death is their way of keeping up with the Joneses. There’s a good example of vocation gone wrong.

On a darker note, there is The Worker Song by the Dropkick Murphys:

This one’s for the workers, who toil night and day
By hand and by brain, to earn your pay
Who for centuries long past, for no more than your bread
Have bled for your countries and counted your dead.

In the factories and mills and the ship yards and mines
We’ve often been told to keep up with the times
For our skills are not needed, they’ve streamlined the job
And with sliderule and stopwatch our pride they have robbed.

And when the sky darkens and the prospect is war
We’re given a gun and pushed up to the fore
And expected to die for the land of our birth
Though we’ve never owned one lousy handfull of earth.

(Refrain)

We’re the first ones to starve, we’re the first ones to die
The first ones in line for that pie in the sky
But we’re always the last when the cream is shared out
For the worker is working when the fat cat’s about.

Also, if you want a song about a young man passionate about his own vocation, may I suggest clicking here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DPpD95qYxw

wow. more than enough is one of the best songs that gets mortification of the flesh, fruit of sanctification and law and gospel exactly right! I am so grateful you posted this! what a wonderful ending to my quaresma lenten season

Polly failed to mention that her husband Eric is now attending Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN.

The Superman Song by The Crash Test Dummies (not Five for Fighting!)

Bus Driver by Caedmon’s Call

Family Man by Andrew Peterson

Dr. Veith-

I’ll be there. Looking forward to meeting you!

Blessings,

Someone already has Andrew Peterson’s Family Man… how about Let There Be Light (also from the Love and Thunder album.)