MILLWORKER by Jennifer Warnes

[@GroovyShelly]

Brilliant musical based on Studs Terkel's book. Great James Taylor song beautifully sung by Jennifer Warnes. And Eileen Brennan? Always elevated anything she was in. This is a heartbreaking, gorgeous clip.

[@PrestenSPapel]

This isn’t just a beautiful song but a powerful and haunting narrative - a truly brilliant work of art. Kudos to James Taylor’s musical genius and Jennifer Warnes’ gorgeous rendition of it. And how much does this pertain to the plight of the low wage worker today? Absolutely brilliant.

[@DalokiMauvais]

I remember when the musical "Working" was first on television, and this number - and Eileen Brennan - made me cry, and hurt. I was fairly young then, but I always remembered "Millworker" and how painful it was. Now, 40 years or so later, I can watch it without crying.

[@arthurmarkos5522]

Great 4 minutes of video. Jennifer feels it and sings it, Eileen acts and tells the tale. Really sublime

[@DalokiMauvais]

Here I am again, commenting a year later. Every time I see this, I am awed by Eileen Brennan's performance.

[@arthurmarkos5522]

Jennifer's voice and Eileen's acting and monologue, maybe the legacy of the musical

[@shawnmcewen6210]

I saw this when I was 18 and liked it in a sad kind of way. Now I am one of these people. Heartbreaking.

[@Suzywriter]

Shawn McEwen, it's amazing how that happened to so many of us! Forty seconds.

[@orpheus127]

I watched WORKING when I was a kid. This was by far the best number of the show. The line that gets me every time? "and may I work this mill just as long as I am able, and never meet the man whose name is on the label." brilliant...

[@seanhartnett79]

Now the cloth Mills are mostly in Bangladesh and China.

[@MsSoundguy]

Eileen Brennen and Jennifer Warnes. God, this is wonderful.

[@lordsxman]

RIP Eileen Brennan, you were quite the accomplished actor.

[@spacepunk2001]

Equally brilliant as adorable silly Little Mary Sunshine and naturalistic gritty portrayals like this mill worker. A glorious artist.

[@rosahur]

I wish people who perform this monologue would read Studs Terkel's book. The real-life woman quoted here is not depressed and beaten down. She has a position with the union hearing grievances and is excited that being involved with the union has opened her eyes to politics and the larger world around her.

[@HowardJess]

+Rosalind Hurwitz Listen to the lyrics. JT didn't write this song about any particular person in the book. "Yes, but it's my life has been wasted, And I have been the fool to let this manufacturer use my body for a tool. I can ride home in the evening, staring at my hands, swearing by my sorrow that a young girl ought to stand a better chance." Tell me those aren't the words of the depressed.

[@BrownEyedGirl331]

Or this may be her interpretation and seems more inspired vs trying to duplicate the story in the book . After all, the song is about a young girl which the actress, Miss Brennan is not any longer, and what a great performance. The young girl appears to be the woman next to her. Having worked in factories while going to school I would say her performance is much more reflective of the workers there, there is more depression and being "beaten down" vs. empowerment and "excitement" about potential opportunities that never seem to materialize for them.

[@PrestenSPapel]

Rosalind, what are you, some flack from McDonald’s pushing politicians to keep the minimum wage at $7.25/hour? I bet you’re a flack from John Deere or some large industrial corporation and get rich from low wage manual labor.

[@rosahur]

@@PrestenSPapel read my comment again, it's pro-union.

[@zibbyzubb]

Still waiting for a comprehensive Jennifer Warnes CD that will include all her great recordings including this gem.

[@4Greg]

zibbyzubb This song isn't on it, but check out her "Famous Blue Raincoat" album - Jennifer Warnes is amazing!!!

[@Diamond121212]

translation in her exact words. : "the tanks run 24 hours a day.i work eight strait hours with two ten minute breaks and one twenty minute break for lunch. i find it difficult for me to eat my lunch in that length of time....forty seconds." that's what she said i hope it helped you out C:

[@Suzywriter]

Waiting for a daydream to take me through the morning...oh man, that's my day, every day.

[@smg60631]

The song is actually from the James Taylor CD Flag along with a full version of Brother Trucker that he sings in Working..

[@tuttt99]

Jennifer Warnes is the best female vocalist, bar none.

[@54spiritedwill54]

beautiful !

[@justdolphy2814]

Also check the Bette Midler and Emmylou Harris versions of this song. Thank you James Taylor for an amazing and haunting tune.

[@KennethAyala-w1c]

And Bruce Springsteen! His rendition for the PBS james Taylor Tribute is the definitive version imo.

[@rjddurhamnc]

Outstanding!

[@seanhartnett79]

Funny how things don’t change. I work retail. 8 hours shift with 2 15 minute paid breaks, frequently only get one. 1 unpaid mandatory 30 minute lunch.

[@bdhudelson]

I have heard numerous versions of this song, and none is bad (a testament to James Taylor's songwriting ability), but this is by far my favorite (a testament to Jennifer Warnes singing and interpretive abilities). For another excellent interpretation, try to find Cris Williamson's version on her 1991 "Life in Concert: Circle of Friends" album.

[@PrestenSPapel]

I absolutely agree, and ironically enough, it’s really James Taylor’s version of this song that I like the least (although I still like it). Yes, this song shows Taylor’s musical genius, but it’s really a song that should be sung by a woman in alto so that it could be most effective.

[@johnyzero2000]

Eileen is PERFECT in this!

[@smg60631]

I was pointing out that you can find this version on his Cd Flag becuase someone commented that it was on James Taylor's cd Daddy Loves His Work ..

[@quiver366]

This is a James Taylor tune from the album " Dad Loves His Work".

[@prymalkitty]

James Taylor wrote it for the play Working.

[@larrygentry]

I wrote a song called "My Resistance" and I just realized that this song influenced it

[@OLIVIA6062]

Yes! she's fab in pr benj!!

[@unclebobunclebob]

Based on the book by the great Studs Terkel.

[@thefamilycat]

Something of a downer song-sounds like a James Taylor one-never heard it before

[@taddyd1]

baez and aretha wear the crowns both of whom influenced eva and jennifer.

[@mjjones706]

this is nice, but i think bette does it better, though I think jennifer does a better bernadette.

[@Dontfeedthetrollol]

James Taylor wrote this one. I like his performance better.