Work Song
Brown Jr Oscar Lyrics


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Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
Because they done convicted me of crime
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well reckon that ought to get it
Been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go

I commited crime lord I needed
Crime of being hungry and poor
I left the grocery store man bleeding (breathing? )
When they caught me robbing his store
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well reckon that ought to get it
Been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go

I heard the judge say five years
On chain-gang you gonna go
I heard the judge say five years labor
I heard my old man scream "lordy, no!"
Hold it right there while I hit it
Well reckon that ought to get it
Been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go

Gonna see my sweet honey bee
Gonna break this chain off to run
Gonna lay down somewhere shady
Lord I sure am hot in the sun
Hold it right there while I hit it
Well reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
Been workin' and slavin'




An' workin' and workin'
But I still got so terribly far to go

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Oscar Brown Jr's "Work Song" tell a story of a man who has been convicted of a crime and is serving time on a chain gang. The man is breaking rocks as part of his sentence, expressing his exhaustion with the work and how far he still has to go. He explains that the crime he committed was one of poverty and hunger, robbing a grocery store and leaving the owner injured. Despite his plight, the man longs to see his "sweet honey bee" and dreams of breaking free from the chains and laying down in the shade.


This song speaks to the struggles of poverty, injustice, and imprisonment in a way that is both personal and universal. The chain gang was a brutal and inhumane form of punishment that was used in the United States for many years, and this song gives voice to the experience of those who suffered under it. The singer's crime is one that anyone can understand - stealing food when you're hungry - and his desire for freedom and a better life is something that resonates with people across time and place.


Line by Line Meaning

Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
I am working hard, breaking rocks as punishment for my crime while being imprisoned as a part of the chain gang, a group of prisoners who are physically connected to one another.


Breaking rocks and serving my time
I am paying for my crime by working hard, day in and day out, breaking rocks and serving time in prison.


Because they done convicted me of crime
My hard labor and punishment is a result of my conviction for a crime that I have committed.


Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Please hold the rock steadily in place while I hit it with my hammer, which I am using to break the rock into smaller pieces.


Well reckon that ought to get it
I think I have hit the rock enough times to break it, so I'll move on to the next one.


Been working and working
I have been doing this hard manual labor for a long time and continue to do it every day.


But I still got so terribly far to go
Although I have been working hard, my sentence is long and I have a lot of work left to do before I am free again.


Crime of being hungry and poor
My crime was motivated by the fact that I was hungry and poor, and I resorted to stealing to survive.


When they caught me robbing his store
I got caught by the police while robbing a store to obtain food and other necessities, as I was desperate and had no other means to obtain them.


I heard the judge say five years
When I was in court, the judge sentenced me to serve five years of hard labor as a part of the chain gang.


On chain-gang you gonna go
As a part of my sentence, I am being forced to work as a part of the chain gang, which involves doing hard manual labor under the watchful eyes of prison guards.


I heard my old man scream 'lordy, no!'
My father was present in the court and was upset when he heard about my sentence, as he knew I would have to work hard and be away from my loved ones for a long time.


Gonna see my sweet honey bee
I am looking forward to visiting my loved one, my 'sweet honey bee', once I am free and can leave the chain gang.


Gonna break this chain off to run
I am determined to break free from the chain gang so that I can run and be free once again.


Gonna lay down somewhere shady
After I break free, I plan to rest somewhere shady and cool, as the hard work in the scorching sun has left me exhausted.


Been workin' and slavin'
I have been working extremely hard, almost like a slave, doing manual labor that is physically demanding and exhausting.




Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NAT, JR ADDERLEY, OSCAR, JR BROWN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Daniel J

Breaking up big rocks on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
'Cause I been convicted of crime
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
There, I reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
But I still got so terrible long to go

I committed the crime, Lord of needin'
Crime of bein' hungry and poor
I left the grocery store man bleeding
When they caught me robbin' his store
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
There, I reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
But I still got so terribly long to go

And judge he say, "five years hard labor
On the chain-gang you gwine t'go"
I heard the judge say, "five years labor"
I heard my woman scream, "Lordy, no!"
Oh, hold it steady right there while I hit it
There, I reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
But I still got so terrible long to go

Wanna see my sweet honey baby
Wanna break this chain off and run
Wanna lay down somewhere shady
Lord, it sure is hot in the sun
Hold it right there while I hit it
There, I reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
But I still got so terrible long to go
Breaking up big rocks on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time



All comments from YouTube:

Linda's Place

My father's theme song. Oscar Brown's music spoke to everyday people. Music that helped our parents and us to survive. No fluff, so real.

jazztemple2

Adjoa, not only an amazing version of an amazing song, but the entire Sin & Soul album is one of the all-time best! Peace out.

ian chick

Such an important song and artist!

Checkmate Checkmate

@jazztemple2 This version is probably amazing because Oscar Brown, Jr., along with Nat Adderley wrote this song.

Lisa Andrews

Underrated artist. ❤

Glenn Waddell

I was 3 when Pop bought this album!! I remember hearing the whole album constantly....and STILL LOVE IT AT AGE 60! Pop is 85 and still loves this!!

Joi Jackson Perle

I was about 6 when my parents bought this album. I thought it was a kids' album forever because the whole family was always grooving' to it! I still listen to all of these songs on my phone :)

Daniel J

Breaking up big rocks on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
'Cause I been convicted of crime
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
There, I reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
But I still got so terrible long to go

I committed the crime, Lord of needin'
Crime of bein' hungry and poor
I left the grocery store man bleeding
When they caught me robbin' his store
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
There, I reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
But I still got so terribly long to go

And judge he say, "five years hard labor
On the chain-gang you gwine t'go"
I heard the judge say, "five years labor"
I heard my woman scream, "Lordy, no!"
Oh, hold it steady right there while I hit it
There, I reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
But I still got so terrible long to go

Wanna see my sweet honey baby
Wanna break this chain off and run
Wanna lay down somewhere shady
Lord, it sure is hot in the sun
Hold it right there while I hit it
There, I reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
But I still got so terrible long to go
Breaking up big rocks on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time

countrypaul

Classic!!!! Mr. Brown created a classic with this one.

MeChelle LaChaux

LOVE THIS MAN'S MUSIC!!

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