# Working Man > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Working_Man > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Working_Man.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Man > Source revision: 1352092807 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For other uses, see [Working Man (disambiguation)](/source/Working_Man_(disambiguation)). 1974 song by Rush "Working Man" Song by Rush from the album Rush Released March 1974 (1974-03) Recorded 1973 Genre Hard rock Length 7:06 7:10 (Remastered version) 7:15 (Vault edition) Label Moon Anthem/Mercury Songwriters Alex Lifeson Geddy Lee Producer Rush Audio sample "Working Man" file help "**Working Man**" is a song by Canadian rock band [Rush](/source/Rush_(band)). In an interview on the *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)* YouTube channel, bassist and lead vocalist [Geddy Lee](/source/Geddy_Lee) said that "Working Man" is his favorite song to play live.[1] "Working Man" became a favourite among Rush fans;[2] the guitar solo appeared on *[Guitar World](/source/Guitar_World)* magazine's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos list.[3] ## Release and reception [Donna Halper](/source/Donna_Halper), then a disc jockey and music director at [WMMS](/source/WMMS) in [Cleveland](/source/Cleveland), [Ohio](/source/Ohio), is credited with getting Rush noticed in the United States by playing "Working Man" on the air. The song proved particularly popular in the working-class city. The response resulted in a record deal for the band, who gave her special thanks for her part in their early history and dedicated their first two albums to her.[4][5] Two versions of the song are available as [downloadable tracks](/source/List_of_downloadable_songs_for_the_Rock_Band_series) for the [music video game](/source/Music_video_game) series *[Rock Band](/source/Rock_Band_(series))*. One is a [cover](/source/Cover_version) based on the original recording, while the other is a previously unreleased master track with an alternate guitar solo.[6] The alternate version proved so popular that the band released it on the [iTunes Store](/source/ITunes_Store), under the title "Working Man (Vault Edition)". ## Cultural references The song is featured in episodes of the television series, *[Fargo](/source/Fargo_(TV_series))*, *[Wayne (TV series)](/source/Wayne_(TV_series))*, *[My Name is Earl](/source/My_Name_is_Earl)*, *[That '70s Show](/source/That_'70s_Show)*, *[Supernatural](/source/Supernatural_(American_TV_series))*, and *[American Dad!](/source/American_Dad!)*, the 2011 film *[Goon](/source/Goon_(film))*, and a 2014 [Walmart](/source/Walmart) television advertisement. Major League Baseball player [Pete Alonso](/source/Pete_Alonso) of the [New York Mets](/source/New_York_Mets) uses the song as his walk up song. ## Personnel - [Geddy Lee](/source/Geddy_Lee) – bass, lead vocals - [Alex Lifeson](/source/Alex_Lifeson) – guitar - [John Rutsey](/source/John_Rutsey) – drums ## Notable covers - Danielle Armstrong covered "Working Man" for the opening credits of *[Transporter: The Series](/source/Transporter%3A_The_Series)*. This version was arranged by Jamie Forsyth.[7] - [Thirteenth season](/source/American_Idol_(season_13)) *[American Idol](/source/American_Idol)* contestant [Caleb Johnson](/source/Caleb_Johnson_(singer)) performed this song during the Top 12 round, and was met with moderate reviews from the judges. ## See also - [List of songs recorded by Rush](/source/List_of_songs_recorded_by_Rush) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [*Rush Answers Your Twitter and Facebook Questions*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFze-Oj2UdA), [archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/GFze-Oj2UdA) from the original on 2021-12-14, retrieved 2019-09-29 1. **[^](#cite_ref-rollingstone.com_2-0)** ["Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Rush Songs"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/readers-poll-the-10-best-rush-songs-178108/red-barchetta-171754/). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. 4 March 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Solos_3-0)** [*The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos*](http://guitar.about.com/library/bl100greatesti.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090215065256/http://guitar.about.com/library/bl100greatesti.htm) 2009-02-15 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). [Guitar World](/source/Guitar_World) (accessed December 11, 2007). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Soeder, John (15 April 2011). ["After Donna Halper gave 'Working Man' a spin on WMMS, Rush's career took off"](http://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/index.ssf/2011/04/after_donna_halper_gave_workin.html). *[The Plain Dealer](/source/The_Plain_Dealer)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121026113514/http://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/index.ssf/2011/04/after_donna_halper_gave_workin.html) from the original on 26 October 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** MacLean, Chuck (9 July 2008). ["Quincy woman still promoting Rush 34 years after discovering band"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210204415/http://www.patriotledger.com/entertainment/x2043505192/Quincy-woman-still-promoting-Rush-34-years-after-discovering-band). *The Patriot Ledger*. Archived from [the original](http://www.patriotledger.com/entertainment/x2043505192/Quincy-woman-still-promoting-Rush-34-years-after-discovering-band) on 10 February 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Rock_Band_Unreleased_Master_6-0)** [*DLC Week of July 8th*](http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60350). Rock Band Forum (accessed July 7, 2008). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Blog_7-0)** [*Thierry Attard's Double Feature*](https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2012/12/transporter-series-m6.html) ## External links - [RUSH LYRICS - Working Man](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/rush/working+man_20119956.html) v t e Rush Alex Lifeson Geddy Lee Jeff Jones John Rutsey Neil Peart Studio albums Rush (1974) Fly by Night (1975) Caress of Steel (1975) 2112 (1976) A Farewell to Kings (1977) Hemispheres (1978) Permanent Waves (1980) Moving Pictures (1981) Signals (1982) Grace Under Pressure (1984) Power Windows (1985) Hold Your Fire (1987) Presto (1989) Roll the Bones (1991) Counterparts (1993) Test for Echo (1996) Vapor Trails (2002) Snakes & Arrows (2007) Clockwork Angels (2012) Live albums All the World's a Stage (1976) Exit... Stage Left (1981) A Show of Hands (1989) Different Stages (1998) Rush in Rio (2003) R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2005) Snakes & Arrows Live (2008) Grace Under Pressure Tour (2009) Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland (2011) Clockwork Angels Tour (2013) R40 Live (2015) Live videos Exit... Stage Left (1982) Grace Under Pressure Tour (1986) A Show of Hands (1989) Rush in Rio (2003) R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2005) Rush Replay X 3 (2006) Snakes & Arrows Live (2008) Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland (2011) Clockwork Angels Tour (2013) R40 Live (2015) Compilations Rush Through Time (1979) Chronicles (1990) Retrospective I (1997) Retrospective II (1997) The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987 (2003) Gold (2006) Retrospective III: 1989–2008 (2009) Working Men (2009) Video compilations Through the Camera Eye (1985) Chronicles (1990) Box sets The Studio Albums 1989–2007 (2013) Extended plays Feedback (2004) Cygnus X-1 (2017) Singles "In the Mood" "Fly by Night" "Lakeside Park" "The Twilight Zone" "Making Memories" "Closer to the Heart" "Circumstances" "The Trees" "The Spirit of Radio" "Entre Nous" "Limelight" "Tom Sawyer" "Vital Signs" "New World Man" "Subdivisions" "Countdown" "Red Sector A" "Afterimage" "The Big Money" "Mystic Rhythms" "Time Stand Still" "Show Don't Tell" "The Pass" "Dreamline" "Roll the Bones" "Ghost of a Chance" "Stick It Out" "Nobody's Hero" "Test for Echo" "Half the World" "Driven" "One Little Victory" "Secret Touch" "Summertime Blues" "Far Cry" "Caravan" "Headlong Flight" Other songs "Working Man" "Before" and "After" I. "Into the Darkness" "Didacts and Narpets" "2112" "A Passage to Bangkok" "Tears" "Xanadu" "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres" (II. "Apollo Bringer of Wisdom" and III. "Dionysus Bringer of Love" IV. "Armageddon The Battle of Heart and Mind" VI. "The Sphere A Kind of Dream") "Freewill" "Red Barchetta" "YYZ" "Witch Hunt" "The Analog Kid" "Between the Wheels" "Marathon" "Manhattan Project" "Force Ten" "Mission" "Lock and Key" "Second Nature" "Heresy" "Animate" "Cold Fire" "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)" Tours Hemispheres Tour (1978–1979) Moving Pictures Tour (1980–1981) Exit... Stage Left Tour (1981) Power Windows Tour (1985–1986) Hold Your Fire Tour (1987–1988) Presto Tour (1990) Roll the Bones Tour (1991–1992) Counterparts Tour (1994) Test for Echo Tour (1996–1997) Snakes & Arrows Tour (2007–2008) Time Machine Tour (2010–2011) Clockwork Angels Tour (2012–2013) R40 Live Tour (2015) Fifty Something Tour (2026–2027) Related articles Discography Songs Awards Instrumentals Victor My Favourite Headache A Work in Progress Anatomy of a Drum Solo Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road Hugh Syme Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage Working Man – A Tribute to Rush Category Authority control databases MusicBrainz work --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Working Man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Man) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Man?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.