The Dignity of Labour

Infobox Single
Name = The Dignity of Labour

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Artist = The Human League
from Album =
Released = April 1979
Format = 12" plus flexi
Recorded = 1978
Sheffield
Genre = Electronic
Length = 14:45
Label = Fast Records VF-1
Writer = Philip Oakey
Martyn Ware
Ian Craig Marsh
Producer = Philip Oakey
Martyn Ware
Ian Craig Marsh
Video director =
Certification =
Chart position =
Reviews =
Last single = "Being Boiled"
(1978)
This single = "The Dignity of Labour"
(1979)
Next single = "Empire State Human"
(1979)

"The Dignity Of Labour" is an 12" vinyl record released in 1979. The tracks were written and performed by the The Human League with the line-up Ware, Marsh and Oakey. It was released as the follow-up to their earlier single "Being Boiled" (b/w "Circus of Death") on Fast Product Records, the label that the band released their early singles.

All four parts are instrumental pieces of electronic music, "The Dignity of Labour, Pts. 1-4". These are loosely tied together with a story depicting the construction of the Vostok 1 spacecraft, as well as the launch of the rocket and the pioneering Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into space. The cover art depicts Gagarin, having just landed on earth, about to receive a medal of honor.

At the time of release, the record contained a free single on Flexidisc which featured a recording of the band members and Bob Last discussing what the Flexidisc should contain, in homage to the film, Dark Star.

Track listing

#"The Dignity of Labour (Pt. 1)" – (4:21) — This part depicts miners digging for diamonds, with its distinct synthesized clanging sound, meant to emulate the hammering of picks.
#"The Dignity of Labour (Pt. 2)" – (2:46) — This part represents engineers building parts for the Vostok 1 spacecraft.
#"The Dignity of Labour (Pt. 3)" – (3:49) — This part portrays the takeoff of the rocket.
#"The Dignity of Labour (Pt. 4)" – (3:49) — The least melodic of the 4 parts, this part depicts Gagarin's journey through space as surreal, atonal sounds drift in and out.