Alabama – Forty Hour Week (For A Livin’)

About the song

“40 Hour Week (For a Livin’)” is a notable song by the American country music band Alabama, released in April 1985 as the second single and title track from their album *40-Hour Week*. Written by Dave Loggins, Don Schlitz, and Lisa Silver, the song serves as a heartfelt tribute to America’s hardworking blue-collar workers.

The song’s lyrics offer a poignant salute to those who toil in various manual labor jobs, celebrating their dedication and resilience. Alabama’s 17th No. 1 song, “40 Hour Week (For a Livin’)” reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on August 3, 1985, where it spent a week at number one. The song includes a patriotic touch with a few bars from “America the Beautiful” at its conclusion, further emphasizing its tribute to American workers.

Country music historian Bill Malone highlighted the song’s significance, noting that it is a rare and meaningful tribute to the industrial labor force, a group often underrepresented in country music. Malone praised the song for providing the respect that workers deserved, especially during a time when their contributions were less acknowledged.

The song gained additional visibility when it was used by NBC Sports during the closing credits of Super Bowl XX in January 1986. The broadcast featured highlights from the Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Kansas City Chiefs, synchronizing with the song’s lyrics about various cities and the “West Virginia coal miner” refrain.

The accompanying music video, directed by David Hogan, visually underscores the song’s message by showcasing individuals in different blue-collar professions. This video, which has aired on CMT and Great American Country, effectively complements the song’s celebration of hard work and perseverance.

“40 Hour Week (For a Livin’)” is also central to a discussion among country music enthusiasts regarding chart records. It is often credited with setting a new standard for the longest uninterrupted No. 1 streak on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, though some debate exists about its standing due to the band’s 1982 Christmas single, “Christmas in Dixie.” Despite this, Alabama’s record is widely recognized, and the band’s achievement is celebrated by fans and fellow musicians alike.

Video

Lyrics

There are people in this country who work hard every day
Not for fame or fortune do they strive
But the fruits of their labor are worth more than their pay
And it’s time a few of them were recognized

Hello Detroit auto workers, let me thank you for your time
You work a forty hour week for a livin’, just to send it on down the line
Hello Pittsburgh steel mill workers, let me thank you for your time
You work a forty hour week for a livin’, just to send it on down the line

This is for the one who swings the hammer, driving home the nail
Or the one behind the counter, ringing up the sale
Or the one who fights the fires, the one who brings the mail
For everyone who works behind the scenes

You can see them every morning in the factories and the fields
In the city streets and the quiet country towns
Working together like spokes inside a wheel
They keep this country turning around

Hello Kansas wheat field farmer, let me thank you for your time
You work a forty hour week for a livin’, just to send it on down the line
Hello West Virginia coal miner, let me thank you for your time
You work a forty hour week for a livin’, just to send it on down the line

This is for the one who drives the big rig, up and down the road
Or the one out in the warehouse, bringing in the load
Or the waitress, the mechanic, the policeman on patrol
For everyone who works behind the scenes

With a spirit you can’t replace with no machine
Hello America let me thank you for your time