A traditional blues sad story song. I handled the Tom Waits style vocals, bass, acoustic & electric rhythm & lead guitars, and drums. Jeff Kratzman added harmonica, additional vocals, programmed drums, and handled production. (Thanks, Jeff!)
This is a first-person narrative of an unfortunate, yet timely topic, delivered in a traditional blues style with a bit of tongue-in-cheek gallows humor.
I'm not sad. I'm not happy.
[I'm] just thinking of what to do.
Lost a job that I hated,
But I lost that income, too.
I got that too broke to not work,
But [I] just can't get hired blues."
I'm not afraid of working hard,
But I hate to be abused.
That happens when they've got you.
I'm sure the mans amused
When you're searching and you're desperate
With the just can't get hired blues.
My friends want to help me,
But I know they're struggling, too.
Hanging on by a thread,
There's little that they can do
To throw me a lifeline
To beat the just can't get hired blues.
Somebody, help me. I need a break.
You know that I've taken about all that I can take.
I have a plan to move forward,
And I'm working to see it through.
But my pockets are empty,
And I can't even buy a clue
To find a job where I'm wanted --
And beat the just can't get hired blues.
So, if you hear of an opening,
A job that I could do,
Please send me the info.
I'll be sure to follow through.
I just need a breakthrough
To end these just can't get hired blues.