When Morgan Wallen dropped his massive 36-track project I’m The Problem in May 2025, everybody was busy talking about the Post Malone collaboration or the Tate McRae feature. But deep in the tracklist—number 31 to be exact—sits a gritty, rock-infused anthem that feels less like a polished radio hit and more like a gut punch to the American dream.
Working man's song morgan wallen lyrics aren't just words on a page. They're a vent. A loud, distorted, frustrated vent about the cost of living and the feeling of being stuck in a loop that never ends.
Honestly? It's the most aggressive we've heard Morgan in a long time. While tracks like "7 Summers" were all about nostalgia and sunset vibes, this one is about punching the drywall because your paycheck didn't cover the rent and the light bill at the same time.
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Breaking Down the Working Man's Song Morgan Wallen Lyrics
The song opens with a heavy, driving guitar riff that signals right away this isn't a "love you in the moonlight" kind of vibe. When Wallen hits the first verse, he goes straight for the jugular of corporate fatigue.
"I punch the clock, wanna punch a ticket to New York and punch the boss / But they don't pay enough for me to cover that cost."
It’s that specific kind of blue-collar humor that hides a lot of genuine anger. The play on the word "punch" sets the tone. You aren't just working; you're in a fight. By the time he gets to the line about punching the Sheetrock instead of his boss, he’s speaking to a very specific demographic of people who feel like they're redlining their engines just to stay in the same place.
The Chorus: 25 to Life
The hook is where the song really finds its legs. Wallen sings:
- "Tryin' to make a livin' isn't supposed to feel like dyin'"
- "Lookin' for my golden ticket, can't find no silver linin'"
- "These days, 9 to 5 feels more like 25 to life"
Comparing a standard workday to a prison sentence ("25 to life") is a trope as old as country music itself, but it feels particularly sharp in 2026. The production by Joey Moi leans into a "slow rock" aesthetic here. It’s got more weight than his usual snap-track country-pop. It feels dusty. It feels tired.
Political Undertones and the IRS
One of the more surprising moments in the working man's song morgan wallen lyrics comes in the second verse. Wallen doesn't play it safe. He mentions "Red, blue, right, left," saying they’re all "workin' us to death."
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It’s a rare moment of "us vs. them" that focuses on class rather than partisan politics. He follows it up with a jab at the IRS, noting that whatever is left over after the grueling week goes straight to the taxman. It’s a sentiment that resonates across the board, whether you’re listening in a tractor or a cubicle.
Why This Song Matters for Morgan’s Career
For a long time, critics argued that Wallen was moving too far into "Nashville Pop." He was the king of the "vibey" song. But I'm The Problem—and specifically this track—seemed to be a conscious effort to reclaim his Sneedville, Tennessee roots.
The songwriters on this track are a powerhouse lineup:
- Morgan Wallen
- Ryan Vojtesak (Charlie Handsome)
- Blake Pendergrass
- Rocky Block
- Josh Miller
These guys know how to write a hit, but they also know how to write for Morgan’s specific gravelly delivery. On "Working Man's Song," he isn't trying to sound pretty. He sounds like he’s been shouting over a construction site all day.
Comparison to Other Blue-Collar Anthems
If you look at "Don't We," which also appears on the same album, it's a much more positive take on small-town life. It's about being proud of "blue-collar green."
"Working Man's Song" is the flip side of that coin. It’s the Saturday night after a terrible Tuesday. It’s the exhaustion that comes after the pride wears off. While Larry Fleet’s "Working Man" (an acoustic favorite often compared to Wallen’s style) is soulful and steady, Wallen’s version is chaotic and loud. It’s a "hell nah" to the system.
How to Lean Into the Message
If you’re feeling the weight described in these lyrics, you aren’t alone. The song has become a massive trend on social media for a reason.
What you can do with this track:
- Playlist it for the Commute: This is the ultimate "driving home from a shift you hated" song. It’s cathartic.
- Check out the Live Version: Wallen has been playing this on his 2026 tour, and the energy in the stadium usually peaks when the "25 to life" line hits. The live drums by Jerry Roe bring a much more aggressive edge than the studio recording.
- Look into the Credits: If you like the grit of this song, look for other tracks written by Josh Miller and Rocky Block. They tend to bring that "dirt under the fingernails" songwriting style to the table.
The song is a reminder that even when you’re at the top of the charts, those roots in East Tennessee don't just disappear. Wallen might be a superstar, but he still knows exactly what it’s like to look at a paycheck and wonder where the hell it all went.
To get the most out of the track, listen to it back-to-back with "Skoal, Chevy, and Browning" to see the full range of how Wallen is currently interpreting the modern American country experience. Pay attention to the bridge in "Working Man's Song"—the way the instruments drop out slightly before the final explosive chorus really emphasizes the "kickin' like hell" sentiment he's trying to convey. It's a masterclass in building tension that matches the lyrical frustration.
Watch the official lyric video or the audio stream on YouTube to see the full credits and the specific production nuances Joey Moi brought to the track, particularly the way the electric guitars are layered to sound more like a 90s rock anthem than a 2020s country song.
Next Steps:
- Open your preferred streaming app and search for track 31 on the I'm The Problem album.
- Compare the studio version to fan-captured live footage from his 2026 tour stops to hear the difference in vocal grit.
- Explore the rest of the 36-track album to see how this song fits into the broader "problem" narrative Morgan is building this year.