The Lyrics Quiz: Work (Answers)
Answers for Quiz 1 of Term 3, 2025
Kia ora koutou ē hoa mā
Welcome to Friday afternoon and the answers! We’re moving floors/neighbourhoods in my office next week so everyone emptying out their lockers is really giving end of school vibes this afternoon…
Everyone who sent in an answer this week correctly identified “Bitter Sweet Symphony”; “Takin’ Care of Business” caused the most confusion.
1960s: “A Hard Day’s Night”, The Beatles
1970s: “Takin’ Care of Business”, Bachman-Turner Overdrive
1980s: “Manic Monday”, The Bangles
1990s (US): “Why Don’t You Get A Job”, The Offspring
1990s (UK): “Bitter Sweet Symphony”, The Verve
Your leaderboard this week:
🥇 on 10/10: Wreck It Ralph, All the worlds a song, Vercisca, Lore in Order, Team LSP, BSA Team, and Quartz
🥈 on9 /10: Siobhan M, and WDPTBTI
🥉 on 4/10: Radio Gaga’s
Have a great weekend!
Kirsti.
1960s: “A Hard Day’s Night”, The Beatles
You know I work all day
To get you money to buy you things
And it's worth it just to hear you say
You're gonna give me everything
Hint: This song featured in their feature film. This song held the top position in UK and US charts simultaneously for a couple of weeks – first time by any artist. Song title not in lyrics quoted.
1970s: “Takin’ Care of Business”, Bachman-Turner Overdrive
You get up every morning from alarm clock's warning
Take the 8:15 into the city
There's a whistle up above and people pushing, people shoving
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 slavin' jobs and get your pay
Hint: This Canadian rock band which released four albums in the 1970s. Their most famous single is “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” and their fans are known as “gearheads”. Song title not in lyrics quoted.
1980s: “Manic Monday”, The Bangles
Have to catch an early train, got to be to work by nine
And if I had an aeroplane, I still couldn't make it on time
'Cause it takes me so long just to figure out what I'm gonna wear
Blame it on the train, but the boss is already there
Hint: This song is by an 80s all-female American pop rock band. This was their first hit (peaking at #2 in the US, UK and Top 5 in Australia and NZ). This song was written by Prince - after he became a fan of their song “Hero Takes a Fall”, he offered the group the choice of two songs to record. They chose this one. Song title not in lyrics quoted.
1990s (US): “Why Don’t You Get A Job”, The Offspring
She sits on her ass, he works his hands to the bone
To give her money every payday
But she wants more dinero just to stay at home
Well, my friend, you gotta say
Hint: This band is regarded as one of the best selling punk rock bands – active for over 40 years. Their first major hit was “Come Out and Play”. This song is one of the hits from their massive 1998 album. Song title not in lyrics quoted.
1990s (UK): “Bitter Sweet Symphony”, The Verve
Trying to make ends meet
Trying to find some money, then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
Where all the veins meet, yeah
Hint: This was the Rolling Stones biggest hit from the 1990s, and this band’s signature song. Song title not in lyrics quoted.
Extra hint from the Quizmistress: I hate this song. I hate it’s stupid strings sample on an endless loop and it’s stupid earworminess and it’s morbid bloody lyrics, but Phil insisted I include it and since he was kind enough not to include any disco I let him have it.
But please let it be known I hate this song.