I’m a hard-working man
I wear a steel hard hat
I can ride, rope, hammer and paint
Do things with my hands that most men can’t
Can’t get ahead no matter how hard I try
I’m getting really good at barely getting by
Barely getting by
Got everything I own by the sweat of my brow
From my four-wheel drive to my cowboy boots
I owe it all to my blue-collar roots
Feel like I’m working overtime on a runaway train
Got to bust loose from this ball and chain
I’m a hard, hard-working man
I got it all on the line
For a piece of the promised land
And I’m burning my candle at both ends
The only way to keep the fire going is to outrun the wind
Come Friday night
I like to party hard
I carry on with the Cadillac cuties
Spend my whole week’s pay on some weekend beauty
Monday morning I’m the first to arrive
Ain’t nothing but business from nine ’til five
I’m a hard, hard-working man
I got it all on the line
For a piece of the promised land
Well, I’m burning my candle, my candle at both ends, at both ends
‘Bout the only way to keep the fire going is to outrun the wind
I can’t wait to get up in the morning
And do it all over again
I got it all on the line
For a piece of the promised land
I can’t wait to get up in the morning
And do it all over again
Yeah. I’m a hard-living, hard-working man
The Relentless Spirit of the Hard Working Man
“Hard Workin’ Man” by Brooks & Dunn is a powerful anthem celebrating the grit, resilience, and pride of the American blue-collar worker. The lyrics paint a vivid portrait of a man who gives everything he has, both physically and emotionally, to provide for himself and his loved ones. Through references to steel hard hats, cowboy boots, and burning the candle at both ends, the song captures the sacrifices and challenges faced by those who keep pushing forward despite adversity. There’s a raw honesty in the way the narrator embraces the grind, balancing the exhaustion of labor with the joy of weekend celebrations. Ultimately, the song stands as a tribute to perseverance and the unbreakable spirit required to chase a piece of the promised land.
Song Credits
- Artist: Brooks & Dunn
- Songwriters: Ronnie Dunn, Don Cook
- Release Year: 1993
- Label: Arista Nashville