Worksong Chords

by Nina Simone
15,599 views, added to favorites 384 times
Difficulty: beginner
Tuning: E A D G B E
Capo: no capo
Author John Uriel [pro] 1,165.
1 contributor total, last edit on Apr 9, 2020

Chords

Am
E7
D7
B7

Strumming

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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)
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
   Am         D7
Been Working and working
   B7       E7             Am
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
     Am          D7
Been Working and working
      B7             E7        Am
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
     Am          D7
Been Working and working
      B7             E7         Am
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
      Am        D7
Been Workin' and workin'
       Am         D7
Been Workin' and slavin'
       Am         D7
An' Workin' and workin'
        E7                    Am       E7
But I still got so terribly far to go
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Worksong – Nina Simone
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"Worksong"
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