Work Song

(album: Ledisi Sings Nina - 2021)

Breaking rock out here on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rock out here on the chain gang
'Cause I've been convicted of a crime

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

Breaking rock out here on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rock out here on the chain gang
'Cause I've been convicted of a crime

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

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

Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well, I reckon that ought to get it
I've been working, I've been working
And I still got so far to go

I heard the judge say five years hard labor
On a chain-gang you gotta go
I heard the judge say five years hard labor
I heard my daddy say, "Oh, Lordy, no"

Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well, I reckon that ought to get it
I've been working, I've been working
And I still got so terribly far to go, oh

Wanna see my sweet honey baby
Wanna break off these chains and run
Wanna lay down somewhere shady
'Cause it sure is hot in the sun

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

Breaking a big rock on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rock out here on the chain gang
'Cause I've been convicted of a crime

Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well, I reckon that ought to get it
I been working, I been working
Ooh, still got so terribly far to go
I been working, working
Ooh, still got so far to go
I been working, working
And I still got, got so terribly far to go
Hey, oh