Introduction
“Hard Workin’ Man” is the title track and lead single from Brooks & Dunn’s second studio album, released on February 1, 1993; the album Hard Workin’ Man followed on February 23, 1993 . Written by Ronnie Dunn and produced by Don Cook and Scott Hendricks, the song embodies a blue‑collar spirit and honky‑tonk vibe, resonating deeply with working‑class country audiences .
Musically, the song combines energetic country-rock instrumentation—fiddle, steel guitar, electric riffs—with Dunn’s gritty vocals. Lyrically, it portrays a hardworking man driven by grit and ambition: “I’m a hard, hard workin’ man… burning my candle at both ends” .
Upon release, “Hard Workin’ Man” climbed to No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, marking a strong return following their debut album Brand New Man . It helped cement Brooks & Dunn’s reputation for combining modern country with traditional honky‑tonk energy—keeping themselves relevant yet rooted .
At the 1993 Country Music Association Awards held September 29 in Nashville, the duo’s album Hard Workin’ Man won the CMA Album of the Year, underscoring the record’s industry recognition . The following year they earned a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the song itself .
A notable live performance occurred at the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 11, 1993, when Brooks & Dunn delivered the song on the ACM stage in Los Angeles—an early spotlight moment for the track .
Overall, “Hard Workin’ Man” stands as a signature anthem in Brooks & Dunn’s catalog, marrying heartfelt storytelling with radio‑ready flair. It’s remembered not only as one of their most enduring hits, but as a defining statement of their artistic identity: rough‑edged, polished, and deeply American.
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Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I’m a hard-workin’ man
I wear a steel hard hat
I can ride, rope, hammer and paint
Do things with my hands that most men can’t
I can’t get ahead no matter how hard I try
I’m gettin’ really good at barely gettin’ by
[Verse 2]
Got everything I own
By the sweat of my brow
From my four-wheel drive to my cowboy boots
I owe it all to my blue-collar roots
Feel like I’m workin’ overtime on a runaway train
I’ve got to bust loose from this ball and chain
[Chorus]
I’m a hard, hard-workin’ man
I got it all on the line for a piece of the promised land
And I’m burnin’ my candle at both ends
‘Bout the only way to keep the fire goin’ is to outrun the wind
[Piano & Violin Solo]
[Verse 3]
Come Friday night
I like to party hard
I carry on with the Cadillac cuties
Spend my whole week’s pay on some weekend beauty
Come Monday mornin’ I’m the first to arrive
I ain’t nothin’ but business, y’all, from nine to five
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[Chorus]
I’m a hard, hard-workin’ man
I got it all on the line for a piece of the promised land
Yeah, I’m burnin’ my candle at both ends
‘Bout the only way to keep the fire goin’ is to outrun the wind
[Outro]
I can’t wait to get up in the morning and do it all over again
Well, I’m a hard-livin’, hard-workin’ man