Work Song

Breaking up big rocks on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
'Cause they done convicted me of crime

Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well, I reckon that ought to get it
I been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go

I committed crime, Lord, I needed
Crime of being hungry and poor
I left the grocery store man bleeding
When they caught me robbing his store

Hold it right there, right there while I hit it
Well, I reckon that ought to get it
I been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go

Heard the judge say, "Five years labor
On the chain gang you gonna go"
I heard the judge say, "Five years labor"
Heard my old man scream, "Lordy, no!"

Hold it right there, right there while I hit it
Well, I reckon that ought to get it
I been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go

Breaking up big rocks on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
'Cause they done convicted me of crime

Hold it right there, right there while I hit it
Well, I reckon that ought to get it
I been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go

Gonna go and see my honey bee
Gonna break these chains off and run
Gonna lay down somewhere shady
Lord, it sure is hot in the sun

Hold it right there, right there while I hit it
Well, you know that ought to get it
I been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go
I been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go
I been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go

You know I been working
You know I been slaving, y'all

You know, you know I been working
You, you, you, you know I been
I been working

I been, I been working
Oh, I been slaving
Hey, you know I been working
I been slaving
I been working

I been slaving
You know I been
I been working
I been slaving
I been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go