Kate & Anna McGarrigle – The Work Song (Guitar)

                D7              C
Back before the blues were blue

                  D7             C
When the good ol' songs were new

                  D7               C
Songs that may no longer please us

                   F     C
'Bout the darkies, about Jesus

G                      C
Mississippi minstrels, colour of molasses

F                            C    G          C
Strumming on their banjos to entertain their massas

Am                 Abaug
Some said garbage, others said art

    C        D7      C         D7     G       C      F  C  F C
You couldn't call it soul, you had to call it heart

    G                            C
Oh, backs broke bending, digging holes to plant the seeds

    F                           C       G       C
The owners ate the cane and the workers ate the weeds

        G                     C
Put the wood in the stove and water in the cup

    F                       C    G        C   F  C  F C
You worked so hard that you died standing up

             D7           C
When I was a little thing

              D7           C
Papa tried to make me sing

                 D7              C
'Home Sweet Home' and 'Aura Lee'

                         F     C
These were songs that my daddy taught me

 G                      C
'Camptown Races' and 'Susannah Don't You Cry'

 F                            C    G     C
'Gentle Annie' still brings a tear to my eye

Am                Abaug
Label it garbage, label it art

    C        D7      C         D7     G       C      F  C  F C
You couldn't call it soul, you had to call it heart

    G                            C
Oh, backs broke bending, digging holes to plant the seeds

    F                           C       G       C
The owners ate the cane and the workers ate the weeds

        G                     C
Put the wood in the stove and water in the cup

    F                       C    G        C   F  C  F C
You worked so hard that you died standing up

                 D7           C
Sing me songs of days gone by

                  D7          C
Make me laugh and make me cry

                D7           C
Break my female heart in two

                   F      C
Sing me songs that say "I love you"

G                              C
Lower your eyes and raise your hand up to your breast

F                         C       G      C
Sing me one about the sun setting in the west

Am            Abaug
Ooh ooh ooh,  ooh ooh

    G                            C
Oh, backs broke bending, digging holes to plant the seeds

    F                           C       G       C
The owners ate the cane and the workers ate the weeds

        G                     C
Put the wood in the stove and water in the cup

    F                       C    G        C
You worked so hard that you died standing up

    G                            C
Oh, backs broke bending, digging holes to plant the seeds

    F                           C       G       C
The owners ate the cane and the workers ate the weeds

        G                     C
Put the wood in the stove and water in the cup

    F                       C    G        C   F C G F  C
You worked so hard that you died standing up