American Songwriter has revisited three rock songs from the 1980s that captured the struggles and pride of working-class life, arguing their themes remain relevant today. The feature highlights how each track approaches the subject differently, from wry humour about endless toil to reflections on industrial decline and straightforward tributes to hard graft.

The three songs featured are Huey Lewis and the News' 1982 hit "Workin' For A Livin'," Billy Joel's "Allentown," which mourns the collapse of America's Rust Belt manufacturing jobs, and Jimmy Barnes' "Working Class Man," a blunt anthem to ordinary labourers. The article quotes lyrics from each to illustrate their enduring resonance with listeners facing similar financial and employment pressures decades later.

– Huey Lewis and the News' "Workin' For A Livin'" (1982) portrays the daily grind of low-paid work.
– Billy Joel's "Allentown" reflects on job losses in America's Rust Belt.
– Jimmy Barnes' "Working Class Man" is a direct tribute to blue-collar workers.