Tapping nails on a desk, twirling a phone, making calls, and staring at an endless stream of spreadsheets – all while glued to your chair until 5pm – the 9-5 grind can be exhausting. That’s exactly what Janet Devlin’s new music video captures: the boredom, frustration, and monotony that fuel the gritty fan favourite, ‘Working For The Man,’ released last Friday.
Set against a striking red curtain, the country-rock singer steps away from her signature cowboy aesthetic, embracing a bold 80s office look. Think oversized blazers, dramatic jewellery, and retro red telephones. While the visuals hint at a polished, stylish lifestyle, Devlin makes it clear she’s not afraid to expose the reality beneath it.
Through expressive gestures, she brings the song’s biting lyrics to life, raising her eyebrows and shrugging through lines like, “I’m begging for a recount, looking at my bank account”, and even landing on the wryly delivered, “not enough for Netflix”.
Though the issue is widespread and increasingly pressing, Devlin tackles it with her trademark wit and charm. She contrasts company heads in their “billion-dollar penthouses” with workers, “reduced to working like a dog,” ultimately asking: “Is it working?”
A staple of her live performances, the track has long been a fan favourite, known for igniting raucous energy in the crowd. Its release now feels especially timely – despite having been written a decade ago with Jack Savoretti, when Devlin was just 17 and beginning her songwriting journey. The message remains as relevant as ever, if not more so.
Driven by a fast-paced country-rock backdrop, packed with raw guitars and pounding drums, the track channels the chaotic edge of Nashville at its most intense. Devlin’s vocals remain front and centre: strong, emotive, and brimming with frustration at the relentless rat race and generational struggle for reward.
Watch the visualiser for Working For The Man now – a bold musical statement on an unforgiving working system.
