Album: Rush (1974)

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• Rush released their self-titled debut album on their own label, Moon Records, in 1974. A DJ named Donna Halper at WMMS in Cleveland, Ohio, listened to the last track, "Working Man," and put it on the air, giving the band liftoff. It fit her criteria for three reasons:
  
  1) Cleveland was a working town, and the lyrics were very relatable to their audience.
  
  2) WMMS was an album-oriented rock station, so they looked for songs that other stations weren't playing.
  
  3) Running 7:07, the song gave plenty of time for the DJ to take a bathroom or smoke break.
  
  Immediately, the radio station received calls from people asking when the new Led Zeppelin album was coming out; they were surprised to learn that the vocalist was not Robert Plant, but Geddy Lee, lead singer for a new band called Rush. Thanks to the airplay, the album picked up steam in Cleveland and got the attention of Mercury Records, which signed the band and re-released the album with their promotional might behind it. With the backing of a major label, Rush soon became one of the most popular rock bands in the US and Canada. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Mike - Mountlake Terrace, WA
• This was one of the few popular Rush songs not co-written by Neil Peart, who hadn't joined the group yet (John Rutsey was their drummer). Like most songs on their debut album, "Working Man" was written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson.
• This song tells the story of a typical working man, stuck his routine of putting in his hours, coming home, then doing it all over again the next day. He has greater ambitions, but doesn't seem to have the will to act on them:
  
  It seems to me I could live my life
  A lot better than I think I am
  
  Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson never had 9-5s like this guy, but they did put in the work, playing any gig they could get after forming the band while they were still in high school.
• Does this sound like a certain Led Zeppelin song? Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett told Martin Popoff that it sounds a lot like "Heartbreaker."
• This was used in a 2014 commercial for Walmart, where they touted their support of American factories.
• Longtime Rush roadie Ian Grandy once heard Geddy Lee state that if there is one "ultimate" Rush song, it's "Working Man."
• This was the last song Rush played live, using it as the capper to their R40 Live tour, which ended on August 1, 2015 with a show at The Forum near Los Angeles. On the tour, they played songs in reverse chronological order, starting with their newest songs and working backwards, with the backdrops changing to reflect the era.
  
  The band didn't announce it as a farewell tour, but did say it would "most likely be their last major tour of this magnitude." Neil Peart had threatened retirement before, but this time he was more resolute: He was wearing down physically and wanted to spend more time with his young daughter. When the show ended, he "crossed the back-line meridian" for the first time, joining Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson at the front of the stage to take a bow. A year later, Peart developed brain cancer, which only his closest confidants knew until his death was announced on January 10, 2020 - he had died three days earlier.

Comments: 32

• Mark Killion from Wichita KsWhen I was 14 1974 I came to Wichita . A guy down the street , Steve Durat introduced me to rush . This was the first song he played on stereo .
  Awesome .
  Sure miss Steve . Gave me my first hit of acid .
• Jamie from TxI’m a Zeppelin fan more than a Rush fan, yet at no point can the song Heartbreaker ever be of the caliber of Working Man. Working Man is such a masterfully written song. Alison Hell from Annihilator is on this same caliber, although their styles are nowhere close.
• Pat from Saint Paul, MnAt my co-worker's retirement party a few years ago, his daughter (accompanied by guitar) performed this song, as well as Led Zeppelin's "Ramble On." Coolest retirement party ever!
• William from Reno, NvI used to go to a bar/nightclub in Hawaii where this local band played this song. Every time the lead singer saw me walk in he knew his work was going to be cut out for him. TOTALLY Kicked ass!!!!!!!! K/H D
• Josh from San Diego, Cathe drummer quit because he had diabetes and couldnt go out on tour, just watched a documentary on them
• Wess from Moorhead, Mnchuck u need to be a working man to under stand this song
• Wayne from Crockett, TxIf not my favorite, then it is certainly one of my top three faves from Rush. I've always wondered, if you go to work at 9 and get off by 5, isn't that a pretty normal work day and doesn't that leave quite a bit of time for leisure activity?
• Crizzle from Rincon, GaThe beginning of this song is of my favorite rock riffs of all time. Charlie sucks. The rock out section owns.
• Jeff from Casa Grande, AzThis song is my frickin' ANTHEM. I work 70 hours a week, g-darnit! I t'ain't got no life.
• Jason from Denver, CoFor those that don't know, John Rutsey passed away recently. He was just as important to the success of RUSH as Neil Peart is, or Geddy or Alex for that matter.
• Josh from Westborough, MaCharlie - you suck.
• Josh from Westborough, MaThis song has the greatest guitar solo of all time. Period. Have you ever seen it played? It's frightening. You will rip your heart out and drop on the table by the time they reach the climax. WOW. just wow.
• Allie from Clarkston, MiJeff, i totally agree with you. This song is awesome!!!
  I LOVE THE BASS SOLO!!!!=)
• Jeff from St. Louis, MoI think that Working Man's solo deserves to be higher than 92 on Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos. What do you all think?
• Nick from Cleveland, Oh
  Its great to hear this song first came out in Cleveland, it's a blue collar song that really hits home with the hard working rock fans who live here.
• Chuck from Houston, TxIt's my understanding that Alex Lifeson and John Rutsey still keep in contact. I have also heard that they both work out together, but I could be totaly off.
• Kenny from Wilmot, Nhyea guys charlie's wrong...the solo kicks a**
• Eryn from Jewett City, Ctawesome song. i thought it was zeppelin at first...i love the guitar solo. this is a great song to get me pumped up!!
• Wade from Vancouver, CanadaCharlie, how can you love Rush if you don't like "rock out sections"?
• Wade from Vancouver, CanadaThe "rock out section" is awesome.
• Randy from Colerain Twp., Oh This song really kicks ass. I don't think it really drags all that much. Not only does Alex's guitar playing ability is displayed, but Geddy's bass playing as well. RUSH performed this song on their 'Vapor Trails' tour, and it was the first time that I had ever seen them performed this live, and they did a good job doing it. The one thing about RUSH, they do give a full performance in their shows...even when Alex is drunk.
• Casey from Dalton, GaThe song isn't just like a pop song, verse-chorus-verse-chorus, the rock out part is for people who just want to lean back and take it all in. It's fine the way it is IMHO
• Tristan from Omaha, Neprobley the best guitar ive ever heard especialy on the differnt stages cd
• Jake from Philadelphia, PaAwesome song. The solo is killer.
• Glp from Pittsburg , PaAlthough the solo rocks it does kinda drag on and on. They should have cut it to two minutes or less.
• Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScCharlie" I gotta agree with Randy. The guitar solo is pretty cool!
• Randy from Fords, Nj...'rock out part'...sucks?! God, Charlie, it's /awesome/! Hell, it made it onto Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos, albeit, at the #92 spot...but that's still a mighty accomplishment. I can't name a single Rush instrumental I enjoy more than the last 5 minutes of this one.
• Koko from Bla, AlI agree with Tim Hendersonville! Sleazy!
• Charlie from Thomaston, Cti think the song should have ended after the second chorus, yeah it would have only been 2:00 minutes but lets face it the "rock out" part sucks. anyway: I LOVE RUSH!
• Dave from Cardiff, WalesOriginal drummer John Rutsey left the band soon after the release of their debut album (allegedly to pursue other interests, although some sources have suggested that he found playing live too stressful, and didn't want to make a career out of it). He was subsequently replaced by Neil Peart
• Kevin from Austin, TxThe original album cover's lettering was supposed to have been red, but turned out to be pink instead...
• Tim from Hendersonville, TnThe name of the drummer on Rush's eponymous album was John Rutsey. His photo was on the back of the album cover (as were Lee's and Lifeson's). Rutsey was a rather skeezy looking individual, IMHO.

More Songfacts:

The CaveMumford & Sons

"The Cave" by Mumford & Sons is based on the philosophy of Plato and his work called "Allegory of the Cave."

MotherDanzig

"Mother" by Danzig is about censorship, specifically the Parents Music Resource Center, which pushed record labels to put warning stickers on albums with explicit lyrics.

TendernessGeneral Public

"Tenderness" by General Public was partly inspired by the outbreak of AIDS, which at the time was thought to be contagious.

Don't Go Back To RockvilleR.E.M.

The R.E.M. song "Don't Go Back To Rockville" is about Mike Mills' girlfriend at the University of Georgia, who had to go back to Rockville, Maryland, for the summer.

(Don't Fear) The ReaperBlue Öyster Cult

Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult wrote "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" after he was diagnosed with a heart condition and started thinking about his own mortality.

Shot In The DarkOzzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne's "Shot In The Dark" is titled after a Pink Panther movie.

Editor's Picks

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.