Ben Aubergine Releases “The Man's Always Getting Me Down”
I wrote “The Man’s Always Getting Me Down” in 1998. I was 19 years old, just beginning to navigate the world as an adult, and starting to notice how much of everyday life is shaped by things you never consider as a kid: taxes, fees, surcharges, and penalties. Everyone has their hand out. None of it feels dramatic enough to merit a protest, but it all adds up, and the song came directly from that realization.
At the time, the sentiment was fairly literal. You get paid and something is taken. You check a bill and find another charge. You try to move forward, but you encounter friction everywhere. That persistent feeling of being pulled back a step stayed with me.
Originally written for acoustic guitar, I performed the song throughout the early 2000s as a solo artist. It was direct and conversational—not angry, but rather the sound of noticing something for the first time and not quite knowing what to do with it. As I have aged, the song’s meaning has expanded for me. The idea of “The Man” is no longer strictly financial. It has become about time, energy, and obligation. It is about how much of the self gets carved away by systems, expectations, and routines in our lives.
What hasn't changed is the tone. This was never intended to be a manifesto; it is simply a statement of recognition. This is how the world works, and this is the cost of participation. After thirty years of carrying this song with me, I am finally releasing the fully realized, high-fidelity version I’ve always heard in my head.
