Jethro Tull - Working John, Working Joe Lyrics






When I was a young man (as all good tales begin)
I was taught to hold out my hand
And for my pay I worked an honest day
and took what pittance I could win
Now I'm a working John and I'm a working Joe
and I'm doing what I know
for God and the Economy
Big brother watches over me
And the state protects and feeds me
And my conscience never leaves me
And I'm loyal to the unions
who protect me at all levels

And as I grew, the winds of fortune blew
and the bank smiled down upon me
And mortgaged to the hilt I threw
the breeze of caution behind me
Now I'm a working John and I'm a working Joe
and I'm good at what I know
And God and the Economy
have blessed me with equality
Now I'm equal to the best of you
And better than the rest of you
who would criticise my success
in times of national unrest

Now I own my horseless carriage
in its central-heated garage
And I commute eighty miles a day ---
up at seven to make it pay
I direct ten limited companies
with seeming consummate expertise
two ulcers and a heart disease
a trembling feeling in both knees ---
I'm a working John and I'm a working Joe





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Jethro Tull Working John, Working Joe Comments
  1. C.... M....

    I don't care about the Democrats trying to impeach Trump, I don't care about the killing of terrorists, all I want is for someone to explain why this band isn't inducted in the R&R Hall of fame, the world is a screwed up place

  2. w.... s....

    Good stuff

  3. a.... ....

    I haven't owned copy of A for over a decade. I found my two favorite songs from the album ( Flyingdale Flyer and Black Sunday) on YouTube so I just never got around to getting a new copy after my adventurers in being homeless for six months. I had, I much regret now, completely forgotten about this song. Glad I was searching for Working Man by Rush and for some reason this popped up in the list of videos under that title. (I figure it must have popped up because I've watched a lot of Jethro Tull's song on YouTube. My bother introduced me to Jethro Tull in 1986, and I've been a big fan ever since.)

  4. a.... ....

    Prefer the earlier version recorded during the Songs From the Wood sessions.

  5. S.... ....

    One of the best Jethro Tull albums....the atmosphere is just fantastic!

  6. B.... B....

    So true in 2019. Thank you Mr. Anderson and a fine band especially Mr. Pegg on bass. Very nice

  7. B.... G....

    Hell yeah....i love it.

  8. A.... W....

    Did Jethro trip acid?

    A.... W....

    No. Wonder what would have happened if they had. Ian Anderson was drug free, though he did his share of drinking and ciggerete 🚬 smoking. It is a novelty that a band of the time with this sound was acid and pot clean, but Tull was (at least Anderson).

    A.... W....

    @George Stacey What about King Crimson? Fripp had a no-drug policy with regard to membership in Crimson, and they had a very wild sound.

    A.... W....

    @arkanoiddude that's a fact! Fripp is something else. Love his work on early Brian Eno albums, too.

  9. u.... ....

    Tull greatness flowing from the 70s into the 80s. With a fresh line-up. Incredible!

  10. A.... N....

    real music too good to get high

  11. D.... B....

    ...only 11 of US?!!! Come on Tullites!!!!....

  12. R.... S....

    That guitar is so sharp....