Workin' For MCA

Album: Second Helping (1974)
Play Video
  • Seven years of hard luck, comin' down on me
    From the Florida border, yes, up to Nashville, Tennessee
    I worked in every joint you can name, mister, every honky tonk
    Along come Mr. Yankee Slicker, sayin' "Maybe you're what I want"

    Want you to sign your contract
    Want you to sign today
    Gonna give you lots of money
    Workin' for MCA

    Oh, nine thousand dollars, that's all we could win
    But we smiled at the Yankee slicker with a big ol' Southern grin
    They're gonna take me out to California, gonna make me a superstar
    Just pay me all of my money, mister, maybe you won't get a scar

    Want you to sign your contract
    Want you to sign today
    Gonna give you lots of money
    Workin' for MCA

    Oh, suckers took my money since I was seventeen
    If it ain't no pencil pusher, then it got to be a honky tonk queen
    But I'll sign my contract, baby, and I want you people to know
    That every penny that I make, I'm gonna see where my money goes

    Want you to sign your contract
    Want you to sign today
    Gonna give you lots of money
    Workin' for MCA Writer/s: Edward C. King, Ronnie Van Zant
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 11

  • Kilgore Trout from Anywhere UsaThese guys are great. 2nd album is sweet
  • Dan from Berlin, NhThis Album was part of Save the Fox Theater venue in 1976. Most of the proceeds went to the theater. This is also one of the greatest songs on one of the greatest albums I've ever heard.
  • AnonymousWhat is the intro before they played workin for mca from Atlanta 1976.
  • Joe from Plant City, Florida Just a straight up awesome tune. Not bad for some rednecks from the woods in Jacksonville, Fl. Great guitar riffs, great lyrics.
  • Brian from CaliforniaIn workin' for mca, isn't it slickers steal my money, not suckers?
  • Tom from Bridgeport, CtThe funny thing is they asked Bob Burns who was Skynyrds drummer at the time if he could fill in and he was so drunk he passed out as they asked him.
  • Jon from Tucson, AzJeanette, on Youtube.com I've found footage of Keith Moon passing out at the end of Magic Bus and again during Won't Get Fooled Again. So at least The Who's part of the performance was filmed and there's material trickling out. During The Who's set, Pete Townshend was heard remarking, "They really are quite good, aren't they?"
  • Hannah from Atlanta, GaLynard Skynard is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Jeanette from Mcgrady, NcI would have liked to have been a fly on the wall backstage during the Quadrophenia tour. Can you imagine how scared these guys were? I wonder if any of this tour was filmed?
  • Jacquie from Sparks, NvA horse tranquilizer is what made Moon pass out. Hard to believe that a guy could stay alive after that, but not after taking a few Heminevrin...
  • Jon from Sunnyvale, CaThe Who performed most of Quadrophenia on this tour. The first concert was at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. The performers in Lynyrd Skynyrd were so nervous that evening that they did shots of whiskey backstage and blistered through their set in a state of panic. Bassist Leon Wilkeson said they were the first band to open for The Who and not get booed. Later that night, Keith Moon, under the influence of something, passed out during the concert and was replaced by Scott Halpin, a fan in the crowd. It must have been quite the evening!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Rock Revenge Songs

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-Outs

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-OutsSong Writing

The 10 biggest "retirement tours" that didn't take.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.