Labour & Pop Culture: Boney Fingers

This week’s installment of Labour & Pop Culture is “Boney Fingers” by Hoyt Axton. This 1974 song is a bit Grand Ole Opry for my tastes, but provides an interesting view into the work-a-day world where there isn’t really much prospect of moving up or life getting better.

If you really listen to the lyrics, the contrast between the exhortation to accept that things suck (“Might as well like it 'cause you're all that I've got”) and hope that “Maybe things’ll get a little better, in the mornin’” really jars with the up tempo music and kitschy stage presentation.

A better song from that period and genre is "One's On the Way" by Loretta Lynn. If you'd prefer to listen to that one, you can find it here.



See the rain comin' down and the roof won't hold 'er
Lost my job and I feel a little older
Car won't run and our love's grown colder
But maybe things'll get a little better, in the mornin'
Maybe things'll get a little better.

Oh! the clothes need washin' and the fire won't start
Kids all cryin' and you're breakin' my heart
Whole darn place is fallin' apart
Maybe things'll get a little better, in the mornin'
Maybe things'll get a little better.

[CHORUS]

Work your fingers to the bone - whadda ya get?
( Whoo-whoo ) Boney Fingers - Boney Fing-gers.

Yea! I've been broke as long as I remember
Get a little money and I gotta run and spend 'er
When I try to save it, pretty woman come and take it
Sayin' maybe things'll get a little better, in the mornin'
Maybe things'll get a little better.

[CHORUS]

Yea! the grass won't grow and the sun's too hot
The whole darn world is goin' to pot
Might as well like it 'cause you're all that I've got
But, maybe things'll get a little better, in the mornin'
Maybe things'll get a little better.

[CHORUS]

-- Bob Barnetson