Worksong chords by Nina Simone

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.

Worksong (Oscar Brown Jr, Nat Adderley)
Am
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
Am
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Am
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
E7
Because they done convicted me of crime.
Am
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Am
Well I reckon that ought to get it
   E7         D7
Been Working and working
 E7        D7 Am   E7
But I still got so terribly far to go

Verse 2

Am
I committed crime Lord I needed
Am
Crime of being hungry and poor
Am
I left the grocery store man bleeding
E7
When they caught me robbing his store.
Am
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Am
Well I reckon that ought to get it
     E7          D7
Been Working and working
      E7             D7         Am       E7
But I still got so terribly far to go.

Verse 3

Am
I heard the judge say five years
Am
On chain-gang you gonna go
Am
I heard the judge say five years labor
E7
I heard my old man scream "Lordy, no!"
Am
Hold it right there while I hit it
Am
Well I reckon that ought to get it
     E7          D7
Been Working and working
      E7             D7         Am       E7
But I still got so terribly far to go.

Verse 4

Am
Gonna see my sweet honey bee
Am
Gonna break this chain off to run
Am
Gonna lay down somewhere shady
E7
Lord I sure am hot in the sun
Am
Hold it right there while I hit it
Am
Well I reckon that ought to get it
      E7        D7
Been Workin' and workin'
       E7         D7
Been Workin' and slavin'
       E7         D7
An' Workin' and workin'
        E7        D7             Am       E7   End