G.M. Worker Loses Job, Writes Song

This is a bittersweet story from the Flint Journal. Greg Miles worked for General Motors' Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center for three decades, and then a few weeks ago he learned that his job had been outsourced to a foreign country. What did he do? He wrote a song, "Didn't Quit My Day Job, It Quit Me."

The lyrics came to him in a rush one Sunday afternoon.

In an hour, he scribbled the song on a yellow notepad. He spent a few weeks recording the song in the basement of his Waterford home.

The title comes from realizing that his job, designing tools for assembly lines, was outsourced to foreign countries. The job didn't go away; it just wasn't being done by U.S. workers anymore. [...]

Sitting next to the Irish flag hung on the basement wall, Miles sang in his warbly voice, strummed his Fender acoustic guitar and played his harmonica.

The song combines folk, rock and country.

"It's kind of like a country song, but it's not real twangy," Miles said.

The song has become something of an Internet sensation, and he's already been contacted by several local media outlets and asked to sing at a concert.

"I've never had more fun losing a job in my whole life," Miles said, laughing.

At least they didn't take away his sense of humor, and his talent for strumming that guitar. He's pretty darn good.

Check out this excerpt from his song, along with the YouTube video.

"Need to figure out what I am going to be
Might be a rock star or a pirate at sea
All I know is that this job is history"

"It started very slowly, our work shifted overseas
Began to pick up speed, it spread like some disease
Didn't know why they did this, they don't buy our cars over there"

"Need to figure out what I am going to be
A Wal-Mart greeter or pizza delivery
Do you want fries with that or super-size it please
I'll park that car sir, just give me your keys
All I know is that this job is history"

For his sake - and everyone else in the same situation - I hope the future brings him something better than a Wal-Mart greeter or pizza delivery job. You can't live the American Dream on those wages. Good luck, Greg.

(Cross-posted at Blogging for Michigan.)