The lyrics of Hank Williams III's song "Workin' Man" describe the hardships and struggles of blue-collar workers. The protagonist of the song wakes up every morning to go to work, leaving his wife behind, and prays to make it back home safely every night. He is aware of the dangers of his job but takes the risk to provide for his family. The song highlights the fact that the man has been working since a young age and has now come to rely on this job to make a living. However, the government's decision to lower his wages has made his life even harder. Despite the difficulties, the man perseveres and keeps working in all kinds of weather and in pain. He knows that it is essential to keep his job and earn his wages. But when the boss announces that the work is getting slow, he is forced to pack up and head home, adding to his financial troubles. The song also addresses the idea of how often the efforts of construction workers and factory workers go unnoticed. The protagonist feels that his job of constructing buildings is significant to the world, but it is often not acknowledged enough. The song ends with the man praying for his struggles to be understood, and it goes to show the many hardships and sacrifices that working-class people make every day. Despite their struggles, they remain resilient and continue to provide for their families.
