Work (feat. Skratch Bastid)

from TAO by Shad

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[Losing our relationship with meaningful work]

Another song I wrote before the pandemic that is (sadly) even more timely now. I wanted to write a song about two aspects of work: 1) The way so many jobs are disconnected from the people and places they impact and 2) the increasing precarity and scarcity of jobs. The song was produced by one of my favourites (Skratch Bastid) sampling another one of my favourites (We Are The City--2/3 of whom now perform and produce as Big Kill). So naturally it's one of my favourites.

lyrics

-- Lyrics --

Work (X4)

Looking for a job
Looking for a job man
They say that even Steve Jobs can’t
Find a machine that I could be a cog in
This is a problem
I’m trying to leave it in God’s hands
God’s plan
But even God’s fam
Was literally out on a limb
like God damn!
Looking for a job man
Looking for a job man
I heard theres too much supply
It’s like a log jam
Be your own boss then
Make your own lane
And don’t make an off-ramp
Or your gig goes offshore
As sure as that off-brand cough syrup
Put em in coffins
Like “peace”

No peace
Maybe I’ll sleep when I’m deceased
Maybe it’ll cease when I’m asleep
Maybe I should keep what I can keep
Talk is cheap
I should know—
Given I rap for what I eat
Everyone knows I could eat they food
But I need Insurance for my teeth
I need versatile
Personal
Income streams
That’s purposeful
Suckers work for money
You should make your money work for you
I can’t get no work though
Guess that means
That I got some work to do
The poor can’t afford to look poor
So I gotta make sure the shoes and shirt is new

Cuz I’m looking for a job
looking for a job man
They say that even Steve Jobs can’t
find a machine that I could be a cog in
This is a problem
Everybody knows
and nobody is solving
Somebody told me
Stop in the shop
And talk to the boss
Just on off-chance
Looking for a job man
Looking for a job man
I will do anything
I’ll get it popping
I need a hot dance
Popcaan
I need a pop jam
I need some Robyn
Dont need no off-hand comments
I need some rest on some soft sand
Peace

Im not a man
I am a work horse
I am a part of the work force
Im just not sure of the purpose or person I work for…
Maybe this voice inside
that keeps telling me work more
Hurt more
Perform
give up my wife and my first-born
Wait
I’m not a man
Not til I manage my estate
I am the output I create
After the info I intake
What If I’m fake?
What If I break?
What if my model’s obsolete
And gets tossed in a heap
And gets washed with the sheets
Wanna walk on the beach
And take off for a week
But I’m job seeking

Looking for a job
Looking for a job man
They say that even Steve Jobs can’t
Find a machine that I could be a cog in
This is a problem
I’m trying to leave it in God’s hands
God’s plan
But even God’s fam
Was literally out on a limb
like God damn!
Looking for a job man
Looking for a job man

credits

from TAO, released October 1, 2021
Shad - Vocals
Scratch - Skratch Bastid

Produced by Skratch Bastid and Big Kill

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about

Shad Toronto, Ontario

Shad is a Juno Award-winning rapper from London, Ontario and the host of Netflix’s Hip-Hop Evolution. His albums have been recognized for their sharp lyrics and soulful arrangements.

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