Work Hard, Play Harder

Album: I Got Your Country Right Here (2009)
Charted: 115
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The first single release from Wilson's own Redneck Records, the singer co-wrote the song with John Rich and Vicky McGehee. The same trio were also responsible for penning Wilson's 2005 hit "All Jacked Up."
  • Wilson told The Boot the story of the song: "It's important to have writing partners who you're comfortable with and who you can say something stupid in front of. When you're writing, you can say a lot of stupid things! But you have to be uninhibited. We get together and write either at one of John's places - he has a little bar in [Nashville] - or at my house. We'll sit on the front porch."

    "This song all started with the tapping of a foot and John playing a riff on the acoustic [guitar]. We just started talking about what we feel makes a good American, a good role model. Then we started throwing ideas around. We all agreed we are in a funk in this country, and we don't know if we, as a country, are a bad parent, or what has happened. We have lost that good feeling that comes from working hard and feeling proud that you earned something."
  • Rock band The Black Crowes felt that this copied their 1990 single "Jealous Again" and filed a lawsuit against Gretchen Wilson, her label, her publisher and the cable network TNT who featured the song in a commercial for their drama series Saving Grace. The suit was eventually settled out of court for an undisclosed sum and Black Crowes songwriters Rich and Chris Robinson were given songwriting credits.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Tanita Tikaram

Tanita TikaramSongwriter Interviews

When she released her first album in 1988, Tanita became a UK singing sensation at age 19. She talks about her darkly sensual voice and quirky songwriting style.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.