Blue Collar Man

This is another one on the them of the working class man or blue collar man, work ethic. Or put another way, it could be a reflection on the scourge of mass unemployment, mainly from the traditional industries of the western world.

We all want to feel secure, and not be mocked for a perceived lack of self esteem. For most people, one way of having self esteem is to have a job. In this day and age, I believe that this does not necessarily have to be paid for the esteem to be valid. I for one work in both a voluntary capacity, and as the primary carer for our two boys, both of which give me fulfillment. I can see however, that for some the lack of a paid job can cause major dissatisfaction. Being prepared to work long hours for little pay is frowned upon today, but in the past it was generally accepted, as the alternative was no job. As I've said before the sense of community that this generated in say a mining village, is something that I think is missing today.

Trying to keep my mind on a better place is one of the things that motivates me. Paradise can be all that you have heard it to be, and if you close your eyes may be you are already there. As a Christian I believe that we are living in the age between Jesus' first coming, and his return in glory. I believe that we do see glimpses of heaven now, and that we should all play our part to make the here and now a better place.

Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)

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
My mother and father, my wife and my friends
I see them laugh in my face
But I've got the power, and I've got the will
I'm not a charity case

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

Make me an offer that I can't refuse
Make me respectable, man
This is my last time in the unemployment line
So like it or not I'll take those

Long nights, impossible odds
Keeping my back to the wall
If it takes all that to be just what I am
I'm gonna be a blue collar man

Keeping my mind on a better life
When happiness is only a heartbeat away
Paradise, can it be all I heard it was
I close my eyes and maybe I'm already there


This clip is another taken from the Return to Paradise tour: