Work Song

Breaking up big rocks on the chain gang

Breaking rocks and serving my time

Breaking rocks out here with the chain gang

'Cause I've been convicted of a crime

Hold it steady right there while I hit it

There, I reckon that that ought to get it

Been working, I've been working

But I still got so terrible long to go

I committed the crime, Lord, of needin'

Crime of being colored and poor

Left the grocery store man a-bleedin'

When he caught me robbing his store

Hold it steady right there while I hit it

Reckon that that ought to get it

'Cause I'm working, I've been working

But I still got so terrible long to go

Judge, he said, "Five years in hard labor

On the chain gang, you're gonna go"

Heard the judge said, "Five years of labor"

Heard my woman scream, "Lordy, no"

Hold it steady right there while I hit it

Lord, you know that that ought to get it

I've been working, I've been working

But I still got so terrible long to go

Whoa, hold it steady

While I hit it

On this chain gang

Hold it steady while I hit it

'Cause that's gonna get it