My Gen X Playlist: Bang the Drum All Day – Todd Rundgren

I once jumped out of a moving vehicle. Granted, it was only going about 5 miles per hour, but I will never forget the sudden jolt when I hit the pavement. It was jarring even at that low speed. When I initially took this sabbatical, it was a similar kind of jolt. There is something about hitting a sudden stop.

You’d think that with all the new found time, the days would be filled with time to play. After all, I still wake up relatively early. I have the entire day ahead of me. But when I scan my items at the self check out machine, my bag isn’t filled with play. I’ve been in relax and recovery mode these days. It’s been a godsend.

I get together with friends every year for an annual Christmas party. I was catching up with a few friends and there seemed to be a constant theme. We all feel fatigued from work and life. Maybe it’s a normal response to being in our fifties. We’ve been slogging through career for thirty some odd years. That’s bound to take it’s toll. I remember the days when I was able to soldier through anything. I believe I’m still able to for the most part, but it saps a little more energy out of me than I remembered. I’m glad for this time of rest. It’s not lost on me that I’m fortunate to be able to take this respite from the rat race. I appreciate it every day.

I think I’m on the downslope of my sabbatical and I’ll be looking to re-emerge into the workforce soon. Although adding play sounds like a good addition to finish out the season, I think I’ll continue with R&R for awhile instead. It’s done wonders for my health.

According to Todd Rundgren, there is an alternative to working that 9 to 5. I don’t know where I first heard his song. I can only assume on the radio, or maybe a movie soundtrack. It’s a great anthem for the tired and burnt out. Bang the Drum All Day was released in 1982. It’s such a fun, catchy, memorable tune.

According to Rundgren, most of this song came to him in a dream, including the entire chorus. Fortunately, he was at home near his studio, so he was able to quickly roll out of bed, record what he could remember, and fill in the rest later.

Rundgren is a distinguished songwriter, musician and composer, but this novelty romp is one of his most-played songs. How does he feel about the broad swath of the population that know him only for this song? . . . “I like the idea that I’ve written a song that is well known to a broad segment of the population…and they have no idea why they know it! In the same sense that everybody knows ‘Happy Birthday,’ but they can’t remember the first time they heard it, and they have no idea who wrote it. . . if I never have another hit record on the radio again, that song is still going to be around likely twenty-five years from now.

– Songfacts

If you had a choice between working and banging on a drum, which would you choose?

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day

Ever since I was a tiny boy
I don't want no candy
I don't need no toy
I took a stick and an old coffee can
I bang on that thing til I got
Blisters on my hand because

I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
Yes, I do
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day
That's right

When I get older they think I'm a fool
The teacher told me I should stay after school
She caught me pounding on the desk with my hands
But my licks was so hot
I made the teacher wanna dance
And that's why

I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
Hey, why not?
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day

I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day
Listen to this

Every day when I get home from work
I feel so frustrated
The boss is a jerk
And I get my sticks and go out to the shed
And I pound on that drum like it was the boss's head
Because

I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day
I can bang that drum

I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day

I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
Hey, you wanna take a bang at it?
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day

I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day
I can do this all day