Workin' for a Livin'

{{Infobox song

| name = Workin' for a Livin'

| cover = Workin'_for_a_Livin'_-_Huey_Lewis_and_the_News.jpg

| type = single

| released = 23 July 1982{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Huey+Lewis+And+The+News&titel=Workin%27+For+A+Livin%27&cat=s|title=Huey Lewis And The News - Working For A Livin'|publisher=}}

| recorded = 1981

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Rock

| length = 2:36

| label = Chrysalis

| writer = Huey Lewis, Chris Hayes

| producer = Huey Lewis and the News
Bob Brown

| prev_title = Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do

| prev_year = 1982

| next_title = Heart and Soul

| next_year = 1983

}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Workin' for a Livin'

| cover = Garth Brooks - Workin' for a Livin'.jpg

| type = single

| artist = Garth Brooks and Huey Lewis

| album = The Ultimate Hits

| released = December 17, 2007

| recorded = 2007

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Country

| length = 2:44

| label = Big Machine, Pearl

| writer = Huey Lewis, Chris Hayes

| producer = Allen Reynolds

| chronology = Garth Brooks

| prev_title = More Than a Memory

| prev_year = 2007

| next_title = Midnight Sun

| next_year = 2008

}}

"Workin' for a Livin'" is a single by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, released in 1982. Included on their 1982 album Picture This, the song peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, and number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. A live version appears as a B-side to the single "The Heart of Rock & Roll".{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/3dc9/Huey-Lewis-And-The-News-The-Heart-Of-Rock-&-Roll |title=ultratop.be - Huey Lewis And The News - The Heart Of Rock & Roll |access-date=2009-03-20 |publisher=ultratop.be}}

History

According to Huey Lewis, the song was a semi-autobiographical one about past jobs he had before he became a musician.Exclusive Interview with Huey Lewis by Steve Wosahla, Song Hits Magazine, July 1984 Lewis had written it during his time as a truck driver. "I wrote it when I was actually working," Lewis said. "I thought about all of the jobs which just sort of popped out." Some of the jobs listed in the song (busboy and bartender) were also jobs Lewis had before becoming a musician.

The song was used in the 1988 film Big starring Tom Hanks.{{cite magazine |last1=Bierly |first1=Mandi |title=Huey Lewis' favorite music in films |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/08/01/huey-lewis-favorite-music-films/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=17 September 2022 |ref=9}}

The 1992 Fox sitcom Rachel Gunn, R.N. used a version of the song sung by lead actress Christine Ebersole as its opening theme.(10 July 1992). [http://ew.com/article/1992/07/10/rachel-gunn-rn/ Rachel Gunn, R.N.], Entertainment Weekly

Later version

In 2007, Lewis recorded the song as a duet with country music singer Garth Brooks. This duet version is included on Brooks' 2007 album, The Ultimate Hits, and was released as a single. It is Lewis' first appearance on the Hot Country Songs chart, where the single reached the top 20.