Peggy Seeger - I'm Gonna Be an Engineer cover

"I'm Gonna Be an Engineer" cover by Reina del Cid

Peggy Seeger is a badass.

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[bonniedouglas]

How did I get my engineering degree and work for 20 years without ever hearing this song!?!

[ThermalJockey]

My wife is an Engineer - Actually, a Rocket Scientist, with a Phd! I am a computer scientist / Programmer, with an MS only. One of the things that attracted me to her was her brilliance. Smart is sexy! Thank you for the song! Oh, when my wife had our first child, other than the delivery, I took off work and she stayed working. I was Mr. Mom to our daughter for 9 months (ish). And for 6ish months for our 2nd child, a boy. I do most of the housework. She does most of the cooking. I do most of the shopping and finances. She is smarter than me, and I'm a smart guy! I love my rocket babe!

[tammycapp]

My mom, an engineer herself, sang this when my brother and I were little girls and dad was the stay at home parent. It’s been one of my favorites ever since. Especially the line “I’ll fight them as a woman not a lady, I’ll fight them as an engineer!”

[pumpkinghead]

it's a crime that I only just learned about Peggy and holy moly do you ever do her work justice. It's tragic the song's message is still painfully relevant all these years later but DAMN do you inspire with it.

[raynoladominguez]

You are badass. As a retired engineer, I relate to this song. It is very relevant. You did such a great job.

[keithmorgan]

Love it! My wife is a hell-of-a Lady and a Bad Ass Engineer (PhD, no less). Married 31 years, two kids, crushing stereotypes everyday we can. We always find your talent and style uplifting - today even more so.

[rjsegedin]

First time I've ever heard this song. My wonderful daughter is a mechatronics engineer and the mother of two lovely children. There are a lot more young women studying engineering now than there were in the 1970s when this song was written. Thanks Reina(Elle), I really enjoyed the song and appreciate you bringing it to my attention.

[nicksmith]

I caught this on Facebook Reels, of all places, this morning, and it culminated in me staring out my kitchen window and thinking, “I’m happy to be alive right now.” So I started writing a song about that. I got 3 verses before I stepped away. But I think it’s gonna be a pretty good one. Thanks for the inspiration. And god bless Peggy Seeger.

[briellecirlig]

Excellent cover! I first heard this song on late-night public radio when I was a middle-schooler. The line "Mama said, 'Can't you be a lady?' " hit especially hard, because I heard that all. the. time. My life ended up taking a similar track--I went back to school after being a mother. And now I'm an engineer!

[woodstrapper]

I remember being blown away the first time I heard this song on the radio with my four daughters in the car. Thanks for the great rendition, Elle. I loved your playing. Your voice is perfect for this song.

[trackie]

Always loved this song.
In my 42 years as an engineer, some of my most talented colleagues were women. What I found astounding is that they not only succeeded in their jobs, but often were also taking care of several children. The very best team leader I worked with was not only a PhD engineer, but a capable leader who had a talent for bringing the best out of each member of her team and who always went to bat for us with management. She earned and had our trust and support. She also had her two young children to take care of (they became national level martial arts champions).

[jerrybrownell]

Great rendition of this Peggy Seeger classic. Peggy wrote this in 1971. She was the half sister
of the late Folk singer Pete Seeger. Her late husband Ewan McColl wrote the "First Time Ever
I Saw Your Face" in honor of Peggy. Thanks Reina for sharing.

[kevinkoepnick]

You, dear Engineer, are the badass. I say this as the grandson of a head nurse, son of a single mom/office manager, husband of a science teacher, and dad of a trauma nurse. Be who you want to be. Do what you want to do. Just please keep singing. You are a bad ass positive role model for young women and young men.

[manuelerivera]

OUTSTANDING! Just sent this to my daughter who began her engineering career with the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. (company name purposely omitted) She has had a number of accomplishments despite the good ole' boys club. Keep up the great music!

[andypagano]

Just so amazing to hear this song coming alive again after all these years. Back in the 1970s this was practically an anthem on WBAI Radio in New York. Hope it has the power over people that it had back then.

[sole]

As a young girl ( 50years ago) I had to have a serious conversation with my teacher. We both agreed that sewing and stuff like that did NOT work for me and I wanted to do metal work with the boys. I won and was the first girl in my school to have some fun I think. Btw. I am en with numbers, today:)

[matthewspencer]

Reina: Some of the lyrics show how much British influence rubbed off on Peggy Seeger over all her years here! Jimmy Young used to present a _very_ popular morning to lunchtime show on BBC Radio Two. Vickers was the big industrial company which made everything from Machine-guns to Submarines; some parts of it survive as offshoots of BAe.
When my brother got his masters in criminology, he was hired by the UK government for various crime prevention schemes and when he helped the government and Hull Telecom tackle the problem of anonymous obscene phone calls, he had to be interviewed on the Jimmy Young show, so that all the housewives would know what they should do about it.
_That's_ the sort of thing Ms Seeger means about the Jimmy Young show: you wanted to say something to the nation's housewives, you had to be on the show. Especially if it's something no fit for their husband's ears.
My brother thinks that this interview is lost, even from the BBC archives. But that's what he thinks!

[LawrenceMeisel]

I haven't heard that song since 1970 something. So glad that its spirit is being kept alive. The future is bright. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Bravo.

[cchimi]

I'd never heard this song, but my wife said, "It's been years since I've heard that song. I love it!" Our daughter wants her six-year-old daughter to grow up to be an engineer. I'm going to play this for our granddaughter every chance I get. Thanks for introducing it to me, Reina.

[richardrouse]

I just heard the original Peggy Seeger version of this song on BBC Radio 2 for the first time today and then came across this video while searching for more information about it. This is a fantastic, heartfelt version of a lyrically ingenious song! Top work Reina!