Automation Song chords by Phil Ochs

Chords with lyrics

Automation Song

By Phil Ochs


   G+G  B7B7    E minorEm  Am7Am7  D7D7      G+G
Oh I laid down your railroads, every mile of track.
         B7B7  E minorEm Am7Am7   D7D7      G+G
With the muscles on my arm and the sweat upon my back.
G7G7 C majorC         G+G       C majorC       G+G
And now the trains are rolling, they roll to every shore
  C majorC        G+G           A7A7        D MajorD
You tell me that my job is through, there ain't no work no more.
     G+G  B7B7    E minorEm Am7Am7  D7D7      G+G
Though I laid down your highways all across the land.
         B7B7   E minorEm  Am7Am7   D7D7     G+G
With the ringing of the steel and the power of my hands.
G7G7 C majorC    G+G          C majorC       G+G
And now the roads are there like ribbons in the sky,
  C majorC        G+G         A7A7       D MajorD
You tell me that my job is through but still I wonder why.

    E minorEm           B minorBm
For the wages were low and the hours were long
    E minorEm           D7D7
And the labour was all I could bear.
      E minorEm           B minorBm
Now you've got new machines for to take my place
    Am7Am7           D7D7
And you tell me it's not mine to share.
     G+G  B7B7    E minorEm Am7Am7    D7D7       G+G
Though I laid down your factories and laid down your fields,
       B7B7   E minorEm   Am7Am7  D7D7      G+G
With my feet on the ground and my back to your wheels.
G7G7 C majorC        G+G      C majorC       G+G
And now the smoke is rising, the steel is all a-glow,
  C majorC       G+G        D7D7      G+G
I'm walking down a jobless road and where am I to go.

(repeat)

E minorEm   A minorAm    D7D7  G+G
Tell me, where am I to go.

Notes:

Chords supplied by James Barnett