Happy Labour Day, comrades. Or, depending on your employment situation, happy “let’s celebrate workers by giving them one day off before sending them back to work” day.

Labour Day has its roots in the fight for better working conditions, shorter hours, fair wages, workplace protections and the basic idea that maybe human beings shouldn’t have to sacrifice their entire existence to make somebody else richer. That seems like a pretty reasonable thing to celebrate.

So, naturally, I made a playlist about it.

Welcome to the Canadian Indie Labour Union — OurBasement’s Labour Day soundtrack for anyone who has ever punched a clock, answered an email after hours, worked overtime without being asked, stared blankly at a spreadsheet, dealt with a boss who thinks “we’re a family here” is an acceptable substitute for a raise, or simply wondered how it’s already Monday again.

The playlist kicks off with Neil Young’s “Union Man,” which feels like a pretty appropriate place to start. From there, Mike Van Eyes Big Band brings us “The Work Song,” Rosie and the Riveters want to “Gotta Get Paid,” and Sparrow Smith featuring Cat Clyde remind us about the contributions of “Hard Working Women.” Peace Flag Ensemble offer up “The Work,” while Ariel Sharratt and Mathias Kom bring us “That Job.”

And then we get into the increasingly complicated business of employment.

Skydiggers give us “Employee of the Myth.” The Tragically Hip bring “Morning Moon.” Weary have the appropriately titled “Labour Day.” Speaker Face have “Work Friends.” Miina would apparently prefer to “Live My Life on Holiday,” which, frankly, is becoming increasingly relatable. RUMPUS, Control Room and AK RENNY tell somebody to “Pay Up,” while CHXXX featuring Joy Cleste offer “Pay Per.” Stephen Hero, Uncle Fester and Aquakultre are still “Can’t Stop (Working),” and Shad and Skratch Bastid simply call it “Work.”

There are songs about overtime, getting paid, hard labour, being an employee, working full-time, working and working out, and even getting up, going to work, going home and going to bed. In other words, the full employment experience.

Jody Glenham brings “Overtime.” Fireball Kid offers “At Your Leisure,” which sounds like a concept most employers would like to keep strictly theoretical. Pony Girl says “Laff It Off.” SUUNCAAT has the wonderfully blunt “work.” Mad Iris checks in as “Employee of the Month,” while The Wild High wants to “Get Paid.” Jim’s Plumbing & Electrical brings the appropriately named “Hard Labour,” and Rat Silo provides perhaps the most brutally efficient description of the daily grind with “Getupgotoworkgohomegotobed.”

There’s also Metric’s “Handshakes,” Constantines’ “Working Full-Time,” Marie Davidson’s “Work It (Instrumental),” Pop Pop Vernac’s “Working and Working Out,” The Glorious Sons’ “The Union,” and Smelloship closing this particular stretch of the playlist with “Bossman the Handler.”

And that’s really what this playlist is about: the many, many ways music can document working life.

Work can be meaningful. It can provide purpose, community and a way to make a living doing something you care about. It can also be exhausting, ridiculous, underpaid, precarious and occasionally soul-crushing. Sometimes you love the job. Sometimes you love your coworkers more than the job. Sometimes you are just waiting for the direct deposit to arrive.

Labour Day is a good excuse to think about all of it.

This playlist is also a reminder that Canadian music has never existed separately from the lives of the people making it. Musicians are workers too — often juggling multiple jobs, touring for questionable amounts of money, hauling their own gear, driving ridiculous distances, making records in bedrooms and basements, and trying to turn an increasingly expensive creative pursuit into something resembling a sustainable career.

So put this one on while you’re enjoying the long weekend. Play it at the barbecue. Play it while you’re avoiding your inbox. Play it while you’re doing the work you promised yourself you absolutely were not going to do on Labour Day.

And if you happen to be listening while someone is telling you that the company can’t afford raises this year, turn it up a little louder.

The Canadian Indie Labour Union is now on TIDAL, YouTube and Spotify.

Workers of the world, unite. And maybe send that invoice again. They still haven’t paid it.

TIDAL Music link:

https://tidal.com/playlist/fe7009cc-d16b-4710-8137-652de701e0ea

YouTube playlist link in comments.