Work Song

(Album: Earthy! - 1963)

Go down... Hannah go down
And stay down

Breaking up these rocks on-a chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking up these rocks on-a chain gang
'Cause I been convicted of a crime
Hold it steady right there while I hit it... huh
Oh, reckon that ought-a get it
Been working... I been working
But, I got me so terrible long to go

I been convicted of the crime, Lord, of needing
Crime of being hungry and poor
Had-a leave some grocery man bleeding
When he found me robbing his store
Hold it steady right there while I hit it... huh
Oh, reckon that ought-a get it
Been working... I been working
But, I got me so terrible long to go

Heard a judge say, "Five years labor
To the chain gang you got-a go"
Heard a judge say, "Five years labor"
Heard my woman scream, "Lordy, no!"
Hold it steady right there while I hit it... huh
Oh, reckon that ought-a get it
Been working... I been working
But, I got me so terrible long to go

Captain told me, "You got to watch your behavior
If you're gonna work just like a natural born man"
I told the captain, "You'd be meeting your Savior
You come on close to this hammer in my hand"
Hold him steady right there while I hit him... huh
Oh, reckon that ought-a get him
Been working... I been working
But, I got me so terrible long to go

I wanna see my sweet, honey baby
I got to break these chains off and run
I wanna lay my head where it's shady
Lord knows it's hot in this sun
Hold it steady right there while I hit it... huh
Oh, reckon that ought-a get it
Been working... I been working
But, I got me so terrible long to go

See I been working... I been working
But, I got me so terrible long to go
You know I got me so terrible long to go
Lord... I got me so damn long to go