Work Song

Go down, Hannah, go down and stay down

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 oughta 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'

The crime of bein' hungry and poor

I had to leave that grocery man bleedin'

When he found me robbin' his store

Hold it steady right there while I hit it, huh

Oh, reckon that oughta get it

Been workin', I been workin'

But, I got me so terrible long to go

I heard a judge say, "Five years labor

To the chain gang, you got to go"

I heard a judge say, "Five years labor"

I heard my woman scream, "Lordy, no"

Hold it steady right there while I hit it, huh

Oh, reckon that oughta get it

Been workin', I been workin'

But, I got me so terrible long to go

The captain told me, "You got to watch your behavior

You do your work like a natural-born man"

I told the captain, "You'd be meetin' your Savior

You come on close to the hammer in my hand"

Hold him steady right there while I hit him, huh

Oh, reckon that oughta get him

Been workin', I been workin'

But,I got me so terrible long to go

I wanna see my sweet, honey baby

I wanna 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 oughta get it

Been workin', I been workin'

But, I got me so terrible long to go

Yes, 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

Yes, I have got me so damn long to go, huh