"My boss told me to get my butt in gear. I told him I was shiftless"

In this quote, Jay London is conveying a humorous exchange between himself and his boss. His manager has actually told him to get his butt in gear, most likely meaning to work more difficult and much faster. In response, Jay London has jokingly informed his boss that he is shiftless, meaning he slouches and reluctant to work. This exchange is likely indicated to be humorous, as Jay London is minimizing his manager's request. It is likewise possible that Jay London is utilizing humor to deflect from the reality that he is not working as difficult as he must be. In any case, the quote is a funny way of communicating the exchange between Jay London and his employer.