Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
by Styx

Album: Pieces Of Eight (1978)
Charted: 21
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  • Give me a job, give me security
    Give me a chance to survive
    I'm just a poor soul in the unemployment line
    My God, I'm hardly alive
    My mother and father, my wife and my friends
    I see them laugh in my face
    But I've got the power, and I've got the will
    I'm not a charity case

    I'll take those long nights, impossible odds
    Keeping my eye to the keyhole
    If it takes all that to be just what I am
    I'm gonna be a blue collar man

    Make me an offer that I can't refuse
    Make me respectable, man
    This is my last time in the unemployment line
    So like it or not I'll take those

    Long nights, impossible odds
    Keeping my back to the wall
    If it takes all that to be just what I am
    I'm gonna be a blue collar man

    Keeping my mind on a better life
    When happiness is only a heartbeat away
    Paradise, can it be all I heard it was
    I close my eyes and maybe I'm already there Writer/s: TOMMY R. SHAW
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Wixen Music Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 13

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 10th 1978, "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" by Styx entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #73; and on November 12th, 1978 it peaked at #21 {for 2 weeks} and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #9 on the Canadian RPM 100 Singles chart...
    Between 1972 and 1991 the Chicago-based quintet had twenty-three Top 100 records; eight made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Babe" for 2 weeks on December 2nd, 1979...
    They had three records peak at #3; "The Best of Times" in 1981, "Mr. Roboto" in 1983, and "Show Me the Way" in 1991.
  • Jg from Hfrd Cnty, MdGreat Song. I love Tommy Shaw's voice.
  • ... from Seattle, WaInteresting in that I take it to be a view of making it as a rocker or other artist.."I'll take those long nights, impossible odds, keeping my eye to the keyhole.." yes Styx should be valued as much as Rush and the others mentioned. Look at the sheer diversity, of "Boat on the River", with its rich beauty, Tommy's mandolin and excellent vocals; DDY's accordion.
  • Cheryle from Columbus, OhWhen Tommy wrote this, he was living in Michigan and had a good friend who worked for the automakers, but was laid off and collecting unemployment. The song is his story of anger and embarrassment at having to stand in line at the unemployment office.
  • Elizabeth from Longmont, CoLove the song and Styx rule a lot. I agree that it's dramatic for the meaning. :)
  • Luke from Saint Augustine, Flnot the campaign song i'd go for....i'd pick something like limelight.
  • Eric from Mentor, OhI took a class for my undergrad called "Rock and Roll to Rock" - a history of rock 'n roll class. My project was a history of this song and the album "Pieces of Eight". I poured over articles about Styx (of which, there are very few) and found one from "Keyboardist" magazine. Dennis DeYoung explained the opening to BCM(LN) as being an angry steel mill. The start of my presentation, I utilized that intro over the sound system in the auditorium and BLEW the class away! This song saved my grade!

    The album, by the way, is the only one I have ever seen where the band name does NOT appear on the front nor the back - only the spine. The CD version does not hold the mystique, though.
  • Mia from Syracuse, NyThis is a great song and so awesome live.
  • Allison from A Little Ol' Town In, Miawesome song, styx is wayyyy underrated and not enough people listen to them. In my opinion, they rank high up there with the who and rush.
  • Charity from Grinnell, IaOn the album Big Bang Theory, they redid this song in a slower accoustical version. I really enjoyed this as you could feel more of the pain the man was feeling while being harrassed by his family.
  • Andrea from Minneapolis, Mnyou got my vote : )
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaThis song is awfully dramatic for the meaning.... like most Styx songs.
  • Brandon from Peoria, IlThis is going to be my campaign song when i run for president...i'm gonna learn the guitar part to it also.
see more comments

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