"Working in the Coal Mine" is a song with music and lyrics by Allen Toussaint.
After Toussaint returned to New Orleans from the Army (from 1963–65), he formed a production company, Sansu, with partner Marshall Sehorn. A number of singles, performed by Lee Dorsey, followed in 1965-66, including "Working in the Coal Mine".[1]
It was a hit for Lee Dorsey, released on Amy Records (catalog no. 958), and entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on July 23, 1966, eventually peaking at #8, while reaching #5 on the Billboard R&B chart. Dorsey's version was also used in a Blaupunkt car stereo commercial in the early 1990s.
In 1981 Devo cover version was included as a bonus 7 inch single packaged with their album New Traditionalists. This version was later included in the sound tracks for the films Heavy Metal[2] and Employee of the Month.[3] It peaked on the Hot 100 at #43 and was a top 10 single in New Zealand.
In 2006 it was performed by the cast of The Wedding Weekend and included on the movie's soundtrack.[4]
The song has been adapted for Walmart TV commercials, changing the lyrics to "Working on the rollbacks, prices going down down."
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[edit] Lee Dorsey version
[edit] Devo version
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