Work’n Man is my take on a Latin-inspired groove—where every chord seems to have that unmistakable rhythm. As Donovan told me, you don’t even need to play full chords; a flat pick alone can carry the feel.
The lyrics were inspired by an offhand comment I overheard in a used bookstore: “Someday I’ll just be another dead white guy.” That line stuck with me, eventually finding its way into the song.
I had planned to re-record the vocals at a higher pitch. In the recording studio, as the guitar player was getting ready to lay down his parts, the engineer played my home demo. He turned up the volume, looked at me, and said, “Leonard Cohen.” I didn’t realize at first—it was a compliment. That moment cemented the song’s vibe, and I kept the original vocal tone.
Hear the story, creative process, and of course, Work’n Man.
Let me know what you think!
SHOW NOTES
Lyrics & Song Stories
On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lyrics-Song-Stories-Daniel-Isle/dp/0979468566
Daniel Isle Sky
Website: https://danielislesky.com/
Listen on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1spNvhRAUaIrFsVfmA2Amk
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/daniel-isle-sky/ARJ2g3vVghrqtzm
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/daniel-isle-sky/528753139
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK99j3abVB1UupLNOwajnow
Work’n Man
© 2015 by Daniel Isle Sky
They build big houses
Cost lots of money
Like big cages
They can never leave
Work’n day and night
Twenty-five paying it green
What does it all mean
Has anyone come clean
He says someday he’ll just be
Another dead white guy
Paycheck says today he is
A working man
Driving new cars
It’s the right thing to do
Dreaming on fast wages
Flying though the zoo
Driving day and night
Where does it get you
Are you happy maybe
Or barely making it through
Around here If she asks
What do you do
Just be cool and hazy and not
A working man
T.V. the silver screen
Takes you everywhere to
What they want you to see
Who they want you to be
Harvard and scholars
Framed papers on the wall
Who’s the smarter
A working man
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.