Work

Album: Versatile (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Many can relate to this song's hook: "All I do is work."

    Even rock stars feel this way sometimes, which is what inspired Pop Evil frontman Leigh Kakaty to write the lyric. When the band was working on their sixth album, Versatile, it got to be a slog. "We got caught up in the flow, like this is work and we've got to show up to work," he told Songfacts. "And I'm like, 'I don't show up to work.' This is the dream job because it's fun. We show up to the studio, we don't show up to work."
  • Kakaty calls this the "most versatile, experimental" Pop Evil song to date. He credit's the track's producer, Kevin Hissink, for encouraging him to change his delivery on the song, which Kakaty feels is spoken word.
  • All the people I know are stuck on my phone

    With phones appended to our bodies, it's hard to relax, making every moment feel like "work." Leigh Kakaty explained to Loudwire: "With technology infused in our lives, human communication and social media are at an all-time high. It's almost impossible to completely shut down and rest your mind. This song embodies the angst and the emotions of just wanting to be left alone for a minute. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there that can relate to 'Work' even more so now than ever."
  • The animated video takes place in a meatpacking plant, where identical workers are making the sausage. In the end, one goes rogue and puts an end to it. The video was animated by Juan Dahik and Malachi Staples.
  • When Leigh Kakaty first wrote "Work," he didn't intend it to be a Pop Evil song at all. Rather, he penned the tune as a way to get some of his friends who aren't as into rock to listen to heavier music. "I figured if we could have some of that language that they understand and smother it with guitars, which everyone loves, maybe they'd be more open to hear the voices of us singing more rock and metal music," he explained.

    When it became clear that Kakaty's friends and family loved the song, he shared it with his Pop Evil band mates. "The band, they were, like, 'Wow, this is awesome. We don't have anything like this in our live show, what if we could just give it a go?'" he recalled. "As it started to take shape and the band added their two cents, it was just obvious that it felt, like, 'Wow, this is a special song.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.