The Silhouettes, “Get a Job.” Hit the charts in 1957
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tANdsZW_vY4
This classic approach to solving one’s unemployment situation resonated with the music-listening publid, old and young, black and white.
A more recent song.
The Offspring - Why Don’t You Get A Job?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH-i8IvYIcg
Lyrics to Get a Job, sung by the Silhouettes, 1957:
Were the messages of the memorable hit song mixed messages about the state and reasons for black men’s employment situation? I’m not sure I really heard all the lyrics clearly at the time.
Yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip, bmm
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na
Ahh, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip
Mum-mum-mum-mum-mum-mum, get a job
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na
Well every morning about this time (Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na)
She gets me out of bed, a-crying get a job (Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na)
After breakfast everyday she throws the want ads right my way
And never fails to say - get a job
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na
Ahh, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip
Mum-mum-mum-mum-mum-mum, get a job
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na
Lord, and when I get the paper I read it through and through
I, my girl never fail to see if there is any work for me...
I got to go back to the house, hear that woman’s mouth
Preachin’ and a cryin’, tell me that I’m lyin’ about a job
That I never could find
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na
Ahh, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip
Mum-mum-mum-mum-mum-mum, get a job
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na
Lord, and when I get the paper I read it through and throu-ough
I, my girl never fail to see if there is any work for me...
I better go back to the house, hear that woman’s mouth
Preachin’ and a cryin’, tell me that I’m lyin’ about a job
That I never could find
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na, ahh-do
Sha-na-na-na...
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Richard Lewis / Earl Beal / William Horton / Raymond Edwards
Get a Job lyrics © Vogue Music, Bull Pen Music, Inc.