Bang the Drum All Day

"Bang the Drum All Day"
U.S. release
Single by Todd Rundgren
from the album The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect
B-side
  • "Chant" (US)
  • "Drive" (UK)
ReleasedApril 1983
Recorded1982 at Utopia Sound Studios
Genre
Length3:38
LabelBearsville
Songwriter(s)Todd Rundgren
Producer(s)Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren singles chronology
"Feet Don't Fail Me Now"
(1982)
"Bang the Drum All Day"
(1983)
"Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It"
(1986)

"Bang the Drum All Day" is a 1983 song from Todd Rundgren's 1982 album The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect, released as a single in April 1983. The lyrics describe, in the first person, the narrator's drive to play drums or improvised percussion to the exclusion of other activities such as work or education. All the instruments on this track are performed by Rundgren. The song’s chorus has a melody similar to that of "Fox on the Run" by the Sweet.

Rundgren would re-record the song live for subscribers to his PatroNet service. The new version was retitled "Bang on the Ukulele Daily", referring to Rundgren's decision to perform it in a Hawaiian style, accompanied only by a ukulele. "Bang on the Ukulele Daily" was included on his album One Long Year.

The song has become popular as an anti-work anthem or anthem of celebration.[citation needed]

  1. ^ Sisario, Ben (November 2, 2004). "Todd Rundgren". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Simon & Schuster. pp. 707–708.