Work Song

[Chorus]

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

[Refrain]

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

[Chorus]

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

[Refrain]

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

[Verse 1]

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

[Refrain]

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

[Verse 2]

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"

[Refrain]

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

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]

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

[Refrain]

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

[Chorus]

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

[Refrain]

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