Wörk
WE//ARE//ANIMAL Lyrics


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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

Oh, reckon that ought-a get it

Been workin' … I been workin'

But, I still got a long way 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 still got a long way to go

I wanna go see my baby

I got to break these chains off and run

I wanna lay my head where it's shady

Lord it sure gets 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 still got a long way 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, “Lord, 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.

Overall Meaning

The song "Work" by WE//ARE//ANIMAL is about the hard labor and injustice faced by those who are convicted of a crime and sent to work on a chain gang. The first verse describes the physical labor of breaking rocks as a form of punishment for the singer's crime. Despite working hard, they still have a long way to go before they can be free.


In the second verse, the singer reveals that they were convicted for the "crime of being hungry and poor" and were forced to rob a grocery store. This line highlights the systemic issues that lead to poverty and desperation, and the harsh punishment that can result from those circumstances.


Line by Line Meaning

Breakin' up these rocks on-a chain gang
I'm breaking up rocks as part of a chain gang.


Breakin' rocks and servin' my time
I'm serving time for a crime by breaking rocks.


‘cause I been convicted of a crime.
I'm here because I've been convicted of a crime.


Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Hold it steady while I hit this rock with my hammer.


Oh, reckon that ought-a get it
I think that should be enough to break this rock.


Been workin' … I been workin'
I've been working hard and consistently.


But, I still got a long way to go
My sentence is long and I have a lot of work left to do.


I been convicted of the crime, Lord, of needin'
I'm here because I needed things I couldn't afford.


Crime of bein' hungry and poor
Poverty led me to commit a crime.


Had-a leave some grocery man bleedin'
I had to hurt someone to get what I needed.


When he found me robbin' his store.
I was caught stealing from a store.


I wanna go see my baby
I want to see my loved ones.


I got to break these chains off and run
I need to escape from prison to see them.


I wanna lay my head where it's shady
I want to rest in a cool, shaded place.


Lord it sure gets hot in this sun.
Working in the sun is exhausting and uncomfortable.


Heard a judge say, “Five years labor …
I was sentenced to five years of hard labor.


To the chain gang you got-a go.”
I was sent to work on a chain gang.


Heard a judge say, “Five years labor.”
I received a harsh sentence from the judge.


Heard my woman scream, “Lord, no!”
My loved ones are upset about my sentence.


But, I got me so terrible long to go.
My sentence feels impossibly long and difficult.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., GOPAM ENTERPRISES INC

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