McRae was born in Harlem, New York, on the 8th April 1920, and studied piano as a child. As a teenager she came to the attention of Teddy Wilson and his wife, the composer Irene Kitchings Wilson. Through their influence, one of McRae’s early songs, "Dream of Life", was recorded by Wilson’s longtime collaborator Billie Holiday.
By the late 1940s she was well known among the modern jazz musicians who gathered at Minton's Playhouse, Harlem’s most famous jazz club, where she was the intermission pianist. But it was while working in Brooklyn that she came to the attention of Decca’s Milt Gabler. Her five year association with Decca yielded twelve LPs.
The musicians she sang with include Benny Carter, Mercer Ellington, Count Basie, Sammy Davis Jr, Dave Brubeck, and Louis Armstrong. She was married once (and briefly), to drummer Kenny Clarke.
McRae died on the 10th November 1994.
Work Song
Carmen McRae Lyrics
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Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
Because they done convicted me of crime
[Chorus]
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well, reckon that ought to get it
But I still got so terribly far to go
I committed crime, Lord, I needed
Crime of being hungry and poor
I left the grocery store man bleeding
When they caught me robbing his store
[Chorus]
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!"
[Chorus]
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'
And workin' and workin'
But I still got so terribly far to go
The lyrics of "Work Song" by Carmen McRae vividly portray a chain gang labor where prisoners are forced to break rocks and serve their time. The opening lines describe the backbreaking and arduous nature of the work, while the chorus highlights the repetitive nature of the task. Throughout the song, the singer is reflective and acknowledges his crime, which was driven by a need to survive. He committed a felony by robbing a store because he was hungry and poor. The reality of his situation dawns on him as he's sentenced to five years of hard labor in a chain gang.
The song's chorus is an essential component that helps to reinforce the themes of the lyrics. The singer is upbeat and optimistic as he sings about his work, which is underscored by the song's melody. However, the lyrics reveal a stark contrast between the singer's optimistic perspective and the harsh reality of his surroundings. He's working and slaving, but the journey ahead is still a long one.
Overall, "Work Song" is a poignant commentary on the American penal system and the plight of people who are forced into a life of hard labor. The lyrics serve as a reminder that poverty and desperation often drive people to commit crimes, and the punishment for such crimes can be brutal and unforgiving.
Line by Line Meaning
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
I am stuck in a labor camp, forced to break rocks as punishment for my crime.
Breaking rocks and serving my time
I am serving my sentence by doing hard labor, which involves breaking rocks.
Because they done convicted me of crime
I am here because I have been found guilty of a crime and sentenced to serve time on the chain gang.
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Please hold the rock steady so I can hit it with my hammer.
Well, reckon that ought to get it
I think that should be enough to break the rock into smaller pieces.
Been working and working
I have been working tirelessly.
But I still got so terribly far to go
Despite my hard work, I still have a long way to go before I can be free from the chain gang.
I committed crime, Lord, I needed
I committed a crime out of necessity, not because I wanted to.
Crime of being hungry and poor
I committed a crime because I was desperate due to poverty and hunger.
I left the grocery store man bleeding
When I robbed the store, I harmed the store owner by making him bleed.
When they caught me robbing his store
I was caught in the act of stealing from the grocery store.
I heard the judge say five years
The judge sentenced me to serve five years in jail.
On chain-gang you gonna go
As part of my sentence, I was sent to the chain gang.
I heard my old man scream 'Lordy, no!'
My father was devastated to hear that I had been sentenced to serve time on the chain gang.
Gonna see my sweet honey bee
I am looking forward to seeing my loved one.
Gonna break this chain off to run
I plan to escape from the chain gang by breaking off the chains that bind me.
Gonna lay down somewhere shady
Once I escape, I plan to rest somewhere cool and shaded.
Lord, I sure am hot in the sun
Being outside in the sun all day is exhausting and uncomfortable.
Been workin' and slavin'
I have been working hard and feeling like a slave.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNSON, LUDVIGSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind