Takin' Care of Business - Song Lyrics

  • Originally performed by Bachman Turner Overdrive (aka BTO)
  • Group consisted of brothers Randy (vocals, guitar) and Robbie (drums) Bachman, C. Fred Turner (vocals, bass), and Blair Thornton (guitar)
  • Randy Bachman played guitar with The Guess Who before forming Bachman Turner Overdrive
  • Allegedly he left The Guess Who because of his Mormon religious beliefs which forbade drugs or alcohol, (or coffee or tea for that matter)
  • Bachman's son Tal had a hit with the song "She's So High" in 1999
  • "Takin Care of Business" was a #12 Top 40 hit in 1974
  • One of the most popular classic rock songs of all time

An excerpt from a live Oracle performance is available as both a streaming RealAudio format, or as a higher quality downloadable MP3.  Select the version you'd prefer.

Streaming RealAudio

Download MP3


They get up every morning
From the alarm clock's warning
Take the 8:15 into the city
There's a whistle up above
And people push and people shove
And all the girls
Who try to look pretty

And if your train's on time
You can get to work by 9
And start your slaving job to get your pay
If you ever get annoyed
Look at me, I'm self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day

And I've been
Takin' care of business
Every day
Takin' care of business
Every way
I've been takin' care of business
It's all mine
Takin' care of business
And working overtime
Workout!

If things were easy as fishin'
You could be a musician
If you could make sounds loud or mellow
Get a second hand guitar
Chances are you'll go far
If you get in with the right bunch of fellows

People see you having fun
Just a-lying in the sun
And tell them that you like it this way
It's the work that we avoid
And we're all self employed
We love to work at nothing all day

And we've been
Takin' care of business
Every day
Takin' care of business
Every way
We've been takin' care of business
It's all right
Takin' care of business
And working overtime

Take good care of my business
When I'm away
Everyday

They get up every morning from the alarm clock's warning
Take the eight-fifteen into the city
There's a whistle up above and people push and people shove
And the girls, who try to look pretty
And if your train's on time you can get to work by nine
And start your slaving job to get your pay
If you ever get annoyed look at me I'm self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day

They get up every morning
From the alarm clock's warning
Take the 8:15 into the city
There's a whistle up above
And people push and people shove
And all the girls
Who try to look pretty

And if your train's on time
You can get to work by 9
And start your slaving job
To get your pay
If you ever get annoyed
Look at me, I'm self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day

And I've been
Takin' care of business
Every day
Takin' care of business
Every way
I've been takin' care of business
It's all mine
Takin' care of business
And working overtime

Takin' care of business
Takin' care of business
Takin' care of business
Takin' care of business
Takin' care of business
Every day
Takin' care of business
Every way
Takin' care of business
It's all mine
Takin' care of business
And working overtime
Takin' care of business...


Note that the lyrics posted here are those as interpreted and performed by The Oracle Band. In a few cases we have taken some liberties with the lyrics to make them more appropriate for tasteful gatherings. Their use here is intended as an aid for people in selecting music for their wedding reception or private party, and may not be reproduced for any commercial, for-profit use.

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