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Work Harder (Get Paid the Same)

from Poor Thing by Sam Steffen

/

lyrics

The factory whistle sounded at dawn, so we all gathered out on the floor
Foreman says, “You’re all doin so well, we thought you could do a little bit more—
He gave us our orders, said “Now I don’t want to hear anybody complain—”
You’ll be workin harder and harder, but you’re getting paid the same”

The economy’s gone belly-up, business is following suit
Boss is keepin his salary, but he’s givin his workers the boot
Said, “Some’ll haveta be let go, for the rest of ya, all that’ll change
Is you’ll be working a little bit harder, but you’re gettin paid the same”

Work harder—get paid the same!
It’s the company slogan—the name of the game!
It’s better than nothin! Don’t whine and complain!
You work harder—and you get paid the same!

The cost of livin is on the rise and the landlord’s been raising the rent
Soon all the money you’ve set aside has gone the way the rest of it went
Tomorrow’s another workin day, a chance for to make and to gain
You’ll work a little bit harder, but you’ll be getting paid the same

Society says do your best and there’s nothin you can’t achieve
You want to get rich quick in these times of ours—all you’ve got to do is believe!
I waited in line, put in my time, kept my head down, stayed in my lane
I worked harder and harder, but I just got paid the same

Uncle Sam’s building an army, recruiting anyone he can find
He’ll tell you he’ll pay for your college if you just sign on the old dotted line
He’ll train you to hunt down and kill a man like he ain’t got a face or a name
You’ll work for him, harder and harder, and he’ll repay you just the same

When I’s up I counted my blessings, when I’s down I looked to the Lord
I followed the rules to the letter—and I still ain’t received no reward
I’m no saint, by no means, Lord, to be humble, I’ve never claimed
But I’m workin harder and harder—and I’m getting paid the same

History seems like a broken machine that spits out whatever’s put in
Despite how you’ve fought, your efforts have brought you to someplace you’ve already been
You can try a new course or keep beatin the dead horse as you pray for something to change
Feels like workin harder and harder just to keep getting paid the same

I tried to break free of the eternity of running around on my wheel
I bought a guitar and I got in my car and went out to find something more real
I followed along and practiced the songs and by now I’ve learned the refrain:
It’s: work harder and harder and get paid the same

Now the man upstairs is good and old, he’s been in charge for a while
To him it makes no difference if you owe him an inch or a mile
Whether your life’s been filled with privilege or if it’s been filled with pain
Righteous or wreckless, you get paid the same

When I’m called I’ll rise and go—I won’t make any to-do
I prayed for things I needed bad, but my prayers just never got through
Naked and crying I’ll leave the world as naked and crying I came
I kept workin harder and harder—and kept getting paid the same

credits

from Poor Thing, released July 24, 2022

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Sam Steffen Boise, Idaho

Sam Steffen is a Pennsylvania-bred, Boise-based singer-songwriter whose songs are the torch-wood for a new generation of folk music that has learned from the best stuff in the tradition and aims in spite of everything to keep the human spirit alive and kicking. A versatile musician and skilled finger-picker, Sam is at heart a story-teller, and a prolific one. ... more

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