Thursday Inspiration — Get a Job

Fandango

For this week’s Thursday inspiration, Jim Adams asked us to use the prompt word “job,” or the above picture, or the song “Five O’Clock World,” by the Vogues. I went with above picture and the word “job,” but musically, the song that came to mind for me was “Get a Job” by the Silhouettes. It was released in November 1957 and reached the number one spot on the Billboard pop and R&B singles charts in February 1958.

This song was written by group member Richard Lewis, who, when he returned home to Philadelphia after serving in the U.S. army, didn’t have a job. His my mother said “You need to get a job, Richard,” and basically that’s where the song came from.

Interesting tidbit: the ’50s revivalists group, Sha-Na-Na, took its name from the “Sha na na na, sha na na na na” refrain in “Get a Job.” Sha-Na-Na covered the song and performed it at Woodstock in 1969.

5 thoughts on “Thursday Inspiration — Get a Job”

  1. newepicauthor June 17, 2022 / 12:11 pm

    Great choice Fandango. The woman of the house nags her man to find work, implying that he is both lazy and dishonest, despite this song being light-hearted, exuberant, and very danceable, with infectious vocal hooks, handclaps, a rocking saxophone solo and a general sense of fun. When this became a hit, demand was so high that extra pressings had to be made, and the group themselves helped deliver these records to the stores.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Fandango June 17, 2022 / 12:55 pm

      Thanks, Jim. Yes, this was a massive hit, and apparently an unexpected one.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Elle Rodriguez August 9, 2022 / 4:47 am

      Geesh Fandango! I AM TRYING! 😛 Love this

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Marleen June 17, 2022 / 9:56 pm

    Well, that was fun.

    Liked by 1 person

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