Styx

Released: May 10, 2005

Featuring: Koko Taylor

Songwriter: Tommy Shaw

Producer: Gowan Todd Sucherman Ricky Phillips James Young Tommy Shaw

[Intro]
Yeah
Yeah, I'm gonna be a blue collar man

[Verse 1]
Give me a job, give me security
Give me a chance to survive
I'm just a poor soul in the unemployment line
My God, I'm hardly alive
Mother, father, wife and my friends
I see them laugh in my face
I got the power, and I got the will
I'm not a charity case

[Hook]
I'll take those long nights, impossible odds
Keeping my eye to the keyhole
If it takes all that to be just what I am
I'm gonna be a blue collar man, yeah
Gonna be, yes I am
A blue collar man

[Verse 2]
Make me an offer that I can't refuse
Make me respectable, man
This is my last time in the unemployment line (Hey hey)
So like it or not I'll take the

[Chorus]
Long nights, impossible odds
Keeping my back to the wall (Wanna be a blue collar man)
If it takes all that to be just what I am (Hey hey hey)
I'm gonna be a blue collar man

[Bridge 1]
Keeping my mind on a better life (Yeah yeah)
Where happiness is only a heartbeat away (Do the best I can)
A heartbeat away
Paradise, (Yeah) can it be all I heard it was
I close my eyes (Oh yeah) and maybe I'm already there, hey hey

Ooh yeah

[Chorus]
I'm gonna take the long nights, (Yeah) impossible odds
Keeping my eye to the keyhole (Wanna be a blue collar man)
If it takes all that to be just what I am (Hey hey hey)
I'm gonna be a blue collar man

[Bridge 2]
Oh, yes I am
I'm gonna be
Blue collar man
Come on
I am what I am

[Chorus]
And I'll take the long nights, (Yeah) impossible odds
Keeping back to the wall (Wanna be a blue collar man)
And if it takes all that
All that (All that) to be just what I am (Hey hey hey)
I'm gonna be a blue collar
Gotta be a blue collar
Gonna be a blue collar man

[Outro]
Hey, hey
I'm gonna be (Gonna be a blue collar man)
Gonna be a blue collar man (Gonna be a blue collar man)
Do the best I can
Gonna be a blue collar man (Gonna be a blue collar man)
Hey, I'm gonna be a blue collar man (Gonna be a blue collar man)
Yeah, I'm gonna be a blue collar man (Gonna be a blue collar man)
Every time I look at you, I see something I could do (Uh-huh)
Gonna be a blue collar man (Gonna be a blue collar man)
Yeah, gonna be a blue collar man (Gonna be a blue collar man)
I am what I am (Gonna be a blue collar man)
Gonna be a blue collar man
Oh, I told you when I look at you
Something I just wanna do
Hey, blue collar man

Styx is a rock band from Chicago formed in 1970. They enjoyed great success with pop rock and hard rock songs, and became famous for their power ballads and album releases of the mid 1970s and early 80s.

The band has gone through some famously nasty internal struggles, drug problems, illnesses and deaths, but continues to perform today (with a significantly altered line-up). Tommy Shaw, from Montgomery, AL, left but returned to the band. Drummer John Panozzo developed a debilitating drinking problem and ultimately died. Dennis DeYoung developed an acute case of photosensitivity, and he left the band. They fought among themselves for control of the band name. Glen Burtnik also left and returned, this time on bass, to replace Chuck Panozzo (John’s brother), who had also left the band. (whew.)

more tracks from the album

Big Bang Theory

From the album

Big Bang Theory (2005)

Styx popular songs

Blue Collar Man @ 2120Styx

Styx

Big Bang Theory