Shiftwork

"Shiftwork" is a single by country music artists Kenny Chesney and George Strait. It is the third single from Kenny Chesney's 2007 album Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates.

Initially, "Shiftwork" charted as an album cut, receiving unsolicited airplay which brought the song up to #42 on the country music charts prior to its release. Before the song was officially released, it was credited to both Chesney and Strait. Once it was officially made a single, however, Strait's name was removed from the song, due to contractual agreements between his label (MCA Nashville) and Chesney's Label (BNA Records). Starting with the Billboard chart dated for February 9, 2008, the song was once again billed as "Kenny Chesney duet with George Strait".

Content

The song is a moderate up-tempo, backed by percussion (mainly steel drums), in which the central characters (Chesney and Strait) express their frustration with constantly working shifts at a convenience store. Both characters point out that their job is "a bunch of shiftwork". In the second verse, Strait's character states that he "took [himself] to the beach / had a beer by the edge of the sea" to take his mind off his work.

Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine considered the song a highlight on Chesney's album, making note of how Strait and Chesney both "playfully soften the F in the title, making for a genuinely funny highlight" (thus making the line sound closer to "shit work"). The implication is strengthened by the line "A big old pile of shiftwork."

Chart performance

The song originally charted at #42 from unsolicited airplay in September 2007, shortly after Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates was released. It was officially released as a single in December 2007.

Current peak position

Chart (2007-2008)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs	2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	47
Canadian Hot 100	61

References