Work Song
Clint Stacy 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

[Chorus]
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 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

Overall Meaning

The song "Work Song" by Clint Stacy tells the story of a man who has been convicted of a crime and is now working on a chain gang, breaking rocks and serving his time. He sings about how he committed the crime because he was hungry and poor, and that he left the grocery store man bleeding when he robbed his store. The man laments about how he still has a long way to go despite all the work he has done on the chain gang, and how he is desperate to break free and reunite with his sweetheart.


The lyrics of the song reflect the social and economic conditions of the American South during the early 20th century, where many poor people were forced to resort to crime in order to survive. The chain gangs were a common form of punishment for such crimes, where inmates were made to wear heavy leg chains and were forced to do hard labor, often breaking rocks or doing road work. The song's protagonist represents the voice of those poor and marginalized people who were subjected to this cruel form of punishment for the simplest of crimes.


Overall, "Work Song" is a poignant reminder of the struggles and hardships of those who were caught up in the American criminal justice system during a dark period of the country's history.


Line by Line Meaning

Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
I am physically breaking rocks as part of my forced labor on this chain gang.


Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rocks is how I am serving my sentence for the crime I was convicted of.


Because they done convicted me of crime
I am on this chain gang because I was found guilty of committing a crime.


Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Hold the rock still so I can hit it with my hammer.


Well, reckon that ought to get it
I think I hit the rock hard enough to break it apart.


Been working and working
I have been working hard every day.


But I still got so terribly far to go
I have a long way to go before I can finish serving my sentence.


I committed crime, Lord, I needed
I committed a crime because I was hungry and poor and had no other way to survive.


Crime of being hungry and poor
I committed a crime because I was struggling to meet my basic needs.


I left the grocery store man bleeding
I hurt the grocery store worker while trying to steal from the store.


When they caught me robbing his store
I was caught in the act of stealing from the store.


I heard the judge say five years
The judge gave me a sentence of five years.


On chain-gang you gonna go
I was sent to this chain gang as part of my sentence.


I heard my old man scream 'Lordy, no!'
My father was upset and worried when he heard about my sentence.


Gonna see my sweet honey bee
I am looking forward to seeing my loved one after I finish my sentence.


Gonna break this chain off to run
I am determined to escape from this chain gang so I can be free.


Gonna lay down somewhere shady
I want to rest in a cool, shaded place.


Lord, I sure am hot in the sun
It is very hot and uncomfortable to work outside in the sun.


Been workin' and slavin'
I have been working hard and enduring harsh conditions.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNSON, LUDVIGSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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