Shiftwork (song) - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine considered the song a highlight on Chesney's album, making note of how Strait and Chesney both "playfully soften the F in the title, making for a genuinely funny highlight" (thus making the line sound closer to "shit work"). Brady Vercher of The 9513 gave it a thumbs-down rating, saying "What makes this a bad song is that it’s dull and boring, with zero redeeming qualities. If music is supposed to make you feel something, then this song captures the monotony of 'shiftwork,' but who in their right mind is going to want to be bored when they listen to a song?" Kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, gave it a B- rating. He said that " the ’big ol’ pile of shiiiiiftwork” wordplay in the chorus is funny. It doesn’t hold up much on repeated listenings, however." He goes on to say that the song still manages to become a song about getting drunk in the islands.