Rita MacNeil, CM, ONS (May 28, 1944 -- April 16, 2013) was a Canadian singer from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia 's Cape Breton Island. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own '', was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray the following year, although she had hits on the country and adult contemporary charts throughout her career. In the United Kingdom, MacNeil 's song "Working Man '' was a No. 11 hit in 1990.
who sang its a working man i am
Rita MacNeil