Johnny Paycheck Tells Boss To ‘Take This Job And Shove It’
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You can’t think of Outlaw Country without thinking of ‘Take This Job And Shove It.”
Some of the biggest names in Outlaw Country Music include Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, David Allan Coe, Jessi Colter, Steve Earle, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Paycheck.
Outlaw County really became popular in the 1960s and 1970s, with the artists wanting to gain creative freedom from their music labels that wanted them all to be clean-cut country singers. That’s how they all started, but they definitely did not end their careers that way.
Outlaw Country was given a few different names before the term “outlaw” stuck, including “redneck rock,” “progressive country,” and armadillo country.”
Some believe the term came from the Waylon Jennings song “Ladies Love Outlaws.” What do you think?
Johnny Paycheck Was As Outlaw As They Come
Some people think that being an outlaw means giving anyone and everyone the middle finger (a la Johnny Cash). Sometimes, that it true, especially in the song, “Take This Job And Shove It.”
If there’s anything we have ever wanted to say to that incredibly overbearing and inconsiderate boss, Johnny Paycheck’s “Take This Job And Shove It” covers every concept we have ever dreamed of.
The 1977 hit, written by fellow outlaw David Allan Coe, is the ultimate “in your face” number that will put your mistreating superiors in their place and lift that incredibly stressful burden off your overworked shoulders!.
While the line “take this job and shove it, I ain’t working here no more” already speaks earth-shattering volumes, Paycheck continues with,
“One of these days, I’m gonna blow my top
And that sucker, he’s gonna pay
Lord I can’t wait to see their faces.”
Yikes. If that’s not an unhappy statement, we sure don’t know what is!
Paycheck continues throughout the song describing the loving relationship he indirectly sacrificed due to the job he worked so hard for, and he has had enough.
Take a look at the live performance below.
