Work Song

Go down ... Hannah go down And stay down ... Breakin' up these rocks on-a chain gang Breakin' rocks and servin' my time Breakin' 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 workin' ... I been workin' But, I got me so terrible long to go. I been convicted of the crime, Lord, of needin' Crime of bein' hungry and poor Had-a leave some grocery man bleedin' When he found me robbin' his store. Hold it steady right there while I hit it ... huh! Oh, reckon that ought-a get it Been workin' ... I been workin' 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 workin' ... I been workin' 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 meetin' 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 workin' ... I been workin' 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 workin' ... I been workin' But, I got me so terrible long to go ... See I been workin' ... I been workin' ... 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!