Shiftwork – English Lyrics

• By: Kenny Chesney
• Album: Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the rhythm of working-class life through Kenny Chesney's "Shiftwork." This song offers a great opportunity to learn vocabulary related to work and daily routines in a catchy, country-music context. Its relatable story of hard work and the dream of a vacation makes it a special and engaging way to connect with the English language.

[English]

Shift work, hard work, tired body

Blue-collar shirt and a baseball cap

You knew me

He's hot, sweat drops, 'round the clock

Door never locks

Noise never stops

Not all day

Work seven to three

Three to eleven

Eleven to seven

Shift work, tough work for the busy convenience store clerk

Two feet that hurt, going insane

She's mad at some lad

Drove off and didn't pay for his gas and he won't be the last

'Round the clock pain

Work seven to three

Three to eleven

Eleven to seven

Talking about a bunch of shift work

A big ol' pile of shift work

Work seven to three

Three to eleven

Eleven to seven

Well i work, shift work,

Ten years man, i hated that work

I made a break with the money i saved

It took me to the beach to have a beer by the edge of the sea

And this 'round a clock place

I drank my money away

We partied

Work seven to three

Three to eleven

Eleven to seven

Talking about a bunch of shift work

A big ol' pile of shift work

Work seven to three

Three to eleven

Eleven to seven

Work seven to three

Three to eleven

Eleven to seven

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
work /wɜːrk/ A1	noun - activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result verb - to do a specified activity as part of one's job or obligations
shift /ʃɪft/ A2	noun - a period of work assigned to a worker as part of a job verb - to change position or move from one place to another
tired /ˈtaɪərd/ A1	adjective - feeling a need to rest or sleep
blue-collar /ˌbluːˈkɒlər/ B1	adjective - relating to or denoting workers who do manual or industrial work
convenience /kənˈviːniəns/ B1	noun - the state of being able to proceed without difficulty
clerk /klɜːrk/ A2	noun - a person who works in an office, bank, or store and whose job involves routine tasks
insane /ɪnˈseɪn/ A2	adjective - extremely foolish or irrational
mad /mæd/ A1	adjective - very angry
lad /læd/ A2	noun - a boy or young man
gas /ɡæs/ A1	noun - a substance that is used in vehicles to provide power
beach /biːtʃ/ A1	noun - a pebbly or sandy shore, especially by the ocean
beer /bɪər/ A1	noun - an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavored with hops
edge /ɛdʒ/ A2	noun - the outside limit of an object, area, or surface
party /ˈpɑːrti/ A1	noun - a social gathering of people for pleasure or celebration verb - to enjoy oneself at a social event
save /seɪv/ A1	verb - to keep something safe or intact