There are days for working adults and people with part-time jobs when you think, “I just can’t work today…” or “I don’t want to work!!” If you’re giving your all every day, it’s only natural to have days like that.
But it’s also true that taking a day off isn’t so easy… So in this article, I’ll introduce some songs you’ll want to listen to when you feel like you don’t want to work.
Listening to songs that seem to speak for your feelings might lighten your mood a little and give you the strength to get through the day.
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I Don’t Want to Work!! Songs to Listen to When You’re Fed Up with Your Job (1–10)
I don’t want to go.SHISHAMO
You’ve probably heard songs by SHISHAMO, the girls’ band representing the younger generation, in commercials too! Their charm lies in lyrics that resonate strongly with people their age and catchy melodies.
In this particular song they sing, “I don’t want to go to school,” but if you replace “school” with “work,” working adults will likely relate just as much.
Listening to it might even make you think, “Maybe it’s okay to play hooky once in a while.” Thinking that way can ease your mind and help you dive back into work with fresh energy.
sasanqua (Camellia sasanqua)SEKAI NO OWARI
Selected as a theme song for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, this piece is loved by many listeners not only as a sports anthem but also as an anthem for life.
In our work, hard efforts don’t always pay off, and it’s not uncommon to feel discouraged, thinking, “I did so much but didn’t get any results…” When periods without results continue, we may feel like giving up, but the lyrics of this song gently encourage us, saying, “You’ll be okay.” It’s a song that makes you feel you can stand up again and keep going, even when faced with many hardships.
I don’t want to work.Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai
The most relatable song in the world for when you just don’t want to work.
You could even say it perfectly speaks for all the feelings office workers carry—it’s not an exaggeration! On top of those relatable lyrics, the super catchy, upbeat chorus feels strangely comforting, and as you listen, your mood keeps lifting.
Toward the end, there’s a positive message for you after giving it your all for the day, so try playing this song when you wake up and head to work with a brighter mindset!
Coffee and syrupOfisharu Higedan Dism
Since their major debut in 2018, Official HIGE DANDism—a four-piece piano pop band that has drawn particular attention among younger artists—has released this track.
The song, themed around new members of the workforce, portrays the anxieties about the future and the inner conflicts about the present that anyone who works is likely to experience.
Even when the busyness of everyday life dulls your senses, it carries a message to swallow it all and keep moving toward the future, set to a light, catchy melody.
It’s the kind of number that can make you feel like giving it your all—charging ahead even when you’re struggling at work.
DAREDEVILNanahoshi Orchestra
This rock number by the Nanahoshi Orchestra captures the lethargy of repeated night shifts and the frustration with time through a sense of exhilarating speed.
The track channels a rebellious spirit yearning to break free from a dull routine, carried by distorted guitar riffs and GUMI’s razor-sharp vocals.
Its aggressive sound may well mirror the impulse to shatter the status quo that everyone feels at least once.
This is an early fan favorite included on the April 2013 album “MONSTER BEERGARDEN.” Listen to it on your way home after an unfair day at work, and it will blow away the pent-up gloom in your heart and fuel you for tomorrow.
BirdmanSEKAI NO OWARI
“Birdman,” which opens with Fukase’s first lines and handclaps.
It’s a track from the 2021 album “scent of memory,” used as the theme song for the TV program Mezamashi 8.
It tells the story of a day that begins with waking up.
Rather than purely upbeat lyrics, it traces the feeling of “this is what I really want to do,” gently staying by your side.
That uniquely SEKAI NO OWARI kind of kindness makes this song truly touching.
On days when you don’t want to go to work or can’t find the motivation, it offers not a push to “try harder,” but the comforting support of understanding and empathy.
The music video is lovely too, showing the members’ close bond, and as the song lightens in the latter half, it’s sure to make our hearts—those of us listening—take flight.
bowlingTakahashi Yuu
“Bowling” speaks for human desires and that languid mood to an almost shocking degree.
I was floored by it.
It’s included on singer-songwriter Yu Takahashi’s 2012 album “Our Heisei Rock’n’Roll 2,” and he’s known for his passionate, straightforward lyrics.
It makes you wonder how easy life would be if things just went your way without you doing anything.
Everything’s such a pain! It’s a life song that keeps striking chords of empathy.
Takahashi’s signature message is razor-sharp and exhilarating.
Whether you don’t feel like going to work or you keep molding yourself to fit into relationships, this song will stand by your side through the troubles that weigh on you.
When you’re not in the mood, let this track cheer you on!