Worksong

This is another Nina Simone Song from the "High Priestess of Soul" album recently used in a TV advert as most great songs eventually are. Nat Adderley whilst a Jazz legend in his own right was Cannonball Adderley’s brother. All verses apart from the extension on the last one are the same. There is a little riff before the Ams at the start of the verses (a bit like the "Hootchie Coochie Man" riff) and extensive uses of stops on each line until Been Workin’ an’ Workin’ which swings free. [Verse 1] Worksong (Oscar Brown Jr Nat Adderley) 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 I reckon that ought to get it Been Working and working But I still got so terribly far to go [Verse 2] 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. Hold it steady right there while I hit it Well I reckon that ought to get it Been Working and working But I still got so terribly far to go. [Verse 3] 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 I reckon that ought to get it Been Working and working But I still got so terribly far to go. [Verse 4] 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 I 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