Jimmy Barnes - Working Class Man (Official Video) 

My dad worked harvesting sugar cane in Queensland, Australia, in the early 70s. It was a hard, horrible job in the tropical heat and humidity. He was always prone to put on weight, but after working there my Mum says he became rail thin. This reminds me so much of him. He was very proud of being a working class man. He passed last year. RIP Dad. You are missed.

Barnes has said of the song, "I went to America just after Bodyswerve and met Jonathan Cain, who was in The Babys and Journey. It means a lot to me. Most people thought it was written about me, but it was actually written about my audience - staunch, honest people, who work and who care"

I don't always listen to Jimmy Barnes, but when I do, so do my neighbours.

30 years later he ascended into the sky as a screaming cowboy

This song is so memorable to me for one reason. After my parents split I lived with my Dad during my teens. My Dad is a diesel mechanic, a hardcore Cold Chisel fan and a total Working Class Man. One day I got home from school and found him watching this film clip, perched on the edge of his seat, pumping his fist, yelling "yeah, yeah, I'M A WORKING CLASS MAN!!" He didn't see me til it was too late. It remains one of my fondest memories of my Dad.

The song was written by an American "Jonathan Cain" and sung by a Scotsman "Jimmy Barnes". Jimmy Barnes moved to Adelaide when he was 4. The fact that people of all countries can relate to it shows what a great song it is. It doesn't matter who wrote it or who sings it, it's the music and the message that's important.

My dad Charles came to Australia in the fifties as a migrant teenager he worked at prospect quarry for 42 years before retiring after health issues..i worked with him in 1989 for 3 months i got to watch him in his element.. he made me so proud watching him jump out of his earth mover caterpillar and he brushed himself off with a dusty job he had after that day I never not thought he never worked hard ... I was only 20yrs old... i miss him so much love you dad ... that’s why I love Aussie music....thanks jimmy

Barnesy a true Australian Rock Legend...

As an Aussie living overseas this song makes me so proud of our working class roots and our fighting spirit. Barnsey, you're a legend.

This is basically Australia's "Born In The U.S.A". God, I love the 80s.

Aussie music peaked in the 70s and 80s without a doubt. Amazing artists and music

This song is a bloody tear jerker for me because it reminds me of my dad, a man who wears steel capped boots every day and goes into a factory to make all ends meet. Love, love, love this song. From someone who was born way after this song was released and is laughed at by my generation for loving these type of songs... good work Jimmy Barnes and a huge thank you mate 👍

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I went to my dads funeral and at the end this song was playing my dad was a true working class man he had a heart of gold :,)

I let my dog listen to this song, he went outside and built himself a dog house.

Jimmy Barnes for Eurovison!

I tried singing this song at karaoke once. I nearly fucking died.

A father, son left to carry on ... Blue denim in his veins 👊👊❤️Aussie Aussie Aussie OiOiOi 👊❤️

Remind me so much of my dad. Working his guts out for everything we had, been working since 14, registered builder by 20. Did his time now he’s been injured working for council. I had a job on a high rise and he told me just hit the ground running girl. Like he always did. Bless him.

I don’t know why but this song makes me proud to be an Australian! 🙂

Barnesy got us young guys through our working days in 86 with this inspiring song. A champion Aussie.

i wish i had a job! Barnesy a true Australian Rock Legend... The screaming sky cowboy brought me here.

I worked as a parcel sorter for three weeks back in 2011. I'm something of a working class man myself.

2:37 and so the legend begins

Just imagine Jimmy Barnes, Bob Seger, and John Mellencamp in the same band. Heartland Rock supergroup.

Love this. My father was a locomotive fireman back in the 60s and 70s. Then worked in the steelworks. This song epitomizes and celebrates all those guys out there, past and present. I work in construction. Great video!

One of the best pub/hard rock voices ever to come out of South Australia. And the man can sing soul with the best of them. I have always loved Barnsey since back in the Cold Chisel days. I remember buying "East" with one of my first pay packets...damn near wore the groove off it...copied it onto a cassette for the car - back in the days before CD's. I don't know why, but the sight of pouring molten steel and the cane aflame always makes me feel very proud to be an Aussie. :))

This song reminds me of my dad who worked his life for his family. Still alive in our hearts. R.I.P!

I grew up in the streets with a group of street kids, Timmy was the oldest, He looked after us all.. I never knew how Timmy provided everything until one day I saw him and an elderly man walk into the bathroom together, all of a sudden it clicked... RIP Tim, I'll never forget you..

Don’t you just wish music still had this type of passion! Ah Jimmy... 💖

Jimmy's record company asked Jonathan Cain from Journey to write a song for Jimmy's upcoming album. In Jonathan's book he wrote that no song ideas were coming to him. Then one day he went outside with his dog and started throwing a tennis ball. His dog would run after it and bring back to him. As they did this over and over, Jonathan started thinking about his father and how hard he worked to support his family. The title "Working Class Man" came to him. He said to his dog, " Okay, I have an idea for a song now. I have to go inside and work on it."

Jimmy Barnes an absolute Australian legend. I buried my dad to this song in 2005 and it’s like every single word/lyric was written for him, my dad a true blue Aussie did everything for his family worked every day of his life for his family. I love this song and it takes me back to that day and reminds me of every day before his passing word for word of who he was. Thank you so much for being the musical artist, songwriter you are for your capabilities of capturing a moment in time as you are. My kids know and rock out to your songs new and old but they know who and what their pop was because of this song. Thank you Jimmy Barnes.

Keep it up all those firefighters in Australia, may God bless you for your service.

I'm a teenager who obsessed with 'old' music like dis. Don't judge meh!!

This song makes me destroy and rebuild my house

Thank you too all the working class men and woman making Australia special thank you

So true. Politicians are toys and we fund for their strings to be pulled, but have no say in how they are pulled.

Please stand for the Australian National anthem

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Barnesy a true Australian Rock Legend... Anybody here because of the meme They should play this at every center link lol

This song makes me think of two things 1. The last scene in the movie Gung Ho 2. When America had factories

Like TheBiasedBloodAngel here has said, Australians also fought in Vietnam, along with the US, Millions of protests happened around Australia in response to the Vietnam war, and A lot of the Anger was Directed to the US for Going in there, especially when a lot of the public claimed it was a war they could not win, and They didn't, and consequently Australia was dragged in with it. Hence 'He did his time in Vietnam, still mad at Uncle Sam'

Still love when Advance Australia Fair was sung to the tune of this... if they change our national anthem at all they should do that!!!

Barnes opened up for ZZ Top in 1986 in Richmond Coliseum, Va. One of my first concerts.

The screaming sky cowboy brought me here. AHHHHHHHHH EEEEEAAAHHHHH Barnesy a true Australian Rock Legend...

Why does Jimmy Barnes always look like he's screaming in every thumbnail of every song he does?

Best song ever from a great rock singer and entertainer keep rockin

so, i have just been introduced to Jimmy Barnes, funny part is that i was at work... this song makes the grind alot more fun!

Wtf not enough veiws to be honest, its a classic no doubt💪

"Well he loves a little woman, some day he'll make his wife, Saving all the overtime for the one love of his life" - one of the greatest lines in rock history. SO TRUE! on ya, barnzey!

This American loves Aussie R & R and has for thirty years since I visited The Oz in 83. I never understood why they were never given the credit for their influence like the English or New York bands were when they produced some of the best music of the time. Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, AC/DC, The Angels, Aussie Crawl, Radio Birdman, The Saints, etc....You can't be a true R & R fan if you dont appreciate the Aussies influence.

I some how stumbled on this album when I was 14 back in 86. In fact I still have the cassette. Love the entire tape. I would listen to it all day mixing clay in an old factory dough mixer. These rang close to my heart as a blue collar American farm boy. The words connected with mine and families history. Never forget what really matters and where you came from. It's the working class men and women that are the backbone where ever you come from. Embrace your roots.

Riding an almost-empty bus one night, this song came on the radio. Coming from a forever working class family, I always loved this song and wished the bus driver would turn it up but was too shy to ask. Suddenly, from the back of the bus, someone called, "Excuse me, would you mind turning that up, please?" It was a small group of apprentice tradies who were also on their way home. The bus driver turned the song up loud, and for the rest of the trip we were all lost in the magic of this awesome song, a moment I will never forget.

One "KICK~ASS" tune and Barnes does an outstanding performance at it!!!

This is quite a catchy song. I didn't know Jimmy could sing so good. I came here because of the ahhhh meme

Dad was a working class man in the automotive industry just like the movie Gung Ho which brought me here! Great flick!

jimmy came from the working class we will never have another treasure who understands our way of life. if u get a chance go see him kids!!

How can over 100 people not like this!

When I was little I when to the snow like all kids want to and I met this guy I though was pretty nice and fun to hang around we had a snow ball fight together and little did I know it was Jimmy Barnes.

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Barnesy a true Australian Rock Legend... The screaming sky cowboy brought me here.

when you dream of being a rich businessman but your heart actually belongs as an average Aussie working class man

what a machine! I can only imagine the size of the veins on the side of this dudes neck in the recording studio when making this song! What a Legend, im a kiwi and i turn this song up to full bore when it comes on the radio at work! Love Barnsey

I remember being a pipe line welder when this song was made use to be inspiring.

A real working class man song🇦🇺👌

He is fucking legend this song was one of my father's favorites when he worked his ass off when we were kids

I remember being a pipe line welder when this song was made use to be inspiring. The screaming sky cowboy brought me here.

legendary song from the 80s. Aussie rock music at its best. Best era for rock music the 80s mate!

The auto-generated captions on this are so amazingly accurate!

I cant believe this is the aaaahhaaaa guy. I have so much more respect for him knowing hes legit talented and did the whole thing as ridiculous as it is with such passion. Fucking legend

Michael gudinski, thanks for the music, rest in peace.

I love his voice.. also great on the song Too much love ain’t enough to satisfy me

I grew up with this song when I was a teenager in 58 years old it's still with us Darren Millane

Little did he know that my generation will always remember him because of the most epic scream ever put into a song...

FYI and to add a little fuel to the "This song is about America" fire, Barnsey did write a song about the good ole US of A, It's called "You got nothin I want" and if you like "Working class man" look it up, you will hear a reflection of his experiences in the land of the free, Oh dear...

wow...it make you feel that there's nothing bad about being a working class man, even you cannot be a middle -class or high-class man!

Working Class Man is my favourite Jimmy Barnes song of All-time. Allan Black.

WOAAAHHH HE'S A WORKIN CLASS MAAANNNN

*clap, clap, clap* Amazing subtitles, very accurate. *clapping intensifies*

as a kiwi I'm jealeious u have this awesome musician…..shipping steel forever good on ya jimmy

That fire scene always gets me

This is makes me think of my Dad ..Daddy rest in Peace until we meet again .

It doesn't get any more Aussie than that! STRAYA!

Working hard to make a living Bringing shelter from the rain A father's son left to carry on Blue denim in his vein Oh oh oh, he's a working class man Well he's a steel town disciple He's a legend of his kind He's running like a cyclone Across the wild mid western sky Oh oh oh, he's a working class man He believes in god and Elvis He gets out when he can He did his time in Vietnam Still mad at Uncle Sam He's a simple man With a heart of gold In a complicated land Oh he's a working class man Well he loves a little woman Someday he'll make his wife Saving all the overtime For the one love of his life He ain't worried about tomorrow 'Cause he just made up his mind Life's too short for burning bridges Take it one day at a time Oh oh oh, he's a working class man Oh oh oh, he's a working class man Oh yeah Yes he is Well he's a working class man Oh Ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma I tell you he's a working class man Working class Working class man Yes he is Working class Working class man I want to tell you he's a working class man Working class Working class man Ma ma ma Working class Working class man I got to tell you he's a working class man Working class Working class man Working class Working class man I tell you he's a working class man Working class Working class man Working class Working class man I tell you he's a working class man Working class Working class man (know he is) Working class Working class man I tell you he's a working class man Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Jonathan Cain

I'm from Japan. He is the national treasure

Barnesy a true Australian Rock Legend... The screaming sky cowboy brought me here.

A great salute to all Working Class folk out there. Thanks Jimmy Barnes for all your talent, time and effort to bless us with memorable songs and performances as one of Australia's foremost success stories in rock music! Keep on Rocking. CHEERS from another Working Class Man, Paul Geno.

Working hard to make a living Bringing shelter from the rain A father's son left to carry on Blue denim in his veins Oh oh oh he's a working class man Well he's a steel town disciple He's a legend of his kind He's running like a cyclone Across the wild mid western sky Oh oh oh he's a working class man He believes in god and Elvis He gets out when he can He did his time in Vietnam Still mad at Uncle Sam He's a simple man With a heart of gold In a complicated land Oh he's a working class man Well he loves a little woman Someday he'll make his wife Saving all the overtime For the one love of his life He ain't worried about tomorrow Cause he just made up his mind Life's too short for burning bridges Take it one day at a time Oh oh oh he's a working class man Oh oh oh he's a working class man Oh yeah Yes he is Well he's a working class man Oh Ma ma . . . . . . . I tell you he's a working class man Working class Working class man Yes he is Working class Working class man I wanna tell you he's a working class man Working class Working class man Ma ma ma Working class Working class man I tell you he's a working class man Working class Working class man Working class Working class man I tell you he's a working class man Working class Working class man

straight up mood changer in this covid 19 struggles

Makes you bloody proud to be an Aussie

*Australian Bruce Springsteen.*

Best song ever

I saved up for 8 months on minimum wage working every overtime doing nights and day shifts averaging 80-90 hour weeks. I took my savings and stuck to my plan...OZ! next thing I brought a 89 Pajero 3.0 V6 and lived on the seafront in Adelaide with my best mate. We then moved to Tas and lived in the woods with fire for light, cooking n heat working 100 hour weeks. After this we drove to Darwin via Adelaide. This song is just fucking awesome and after to much grog it brings a tear to my eye lol. Oz people are good folk, I went on to live in NZ, Thailand and now reside in Canada. God bless the bush, sunshine and the open road. I have never been so poor and yet so happy. Jimmy mate you have no idea how awesome your music is mate. Top fella. Too easy.

"Life's too short for burning bridges, he'll take it one day at a time." Says all you need to know. Btw, this was the closing song on an 80s movie with Michael Keaton called Gung-Ho...decent movie...that ended with a great song.

He was really handsome back then as well as a fantastic powerful singer. He still is :) What a true Aussie legend! Anyone see that 20 to 1 program of the top Aussie Chart toppers??? He was No.1 YAY

Holy shit Barnesy became a meme 32 years later lmfao

Once a Scotsman, always a Scotsman. You can see he has the passion

Gotta love this song

The screaming sky cowboy brought me here.

I miss the good old days those days are absolute Legends

In memory of my beloved companion and husband John Rose 13th June 1937 -28th May 2012.

Never heard the song before watching a good movie from the 80's by Ron Howard called Gung Ho with Michael Keaton, and could tell it was a hit.