Recorded by Johnny Cash Words and music by Jerry Chestnut (SPOKEN) I dedicate this song to the workin' man For ever' man that puts in a hard Eight or ten hours a day of work and toil and sweat Always got somebody lookin' down his neck Tryin' to get more out of 'im Than he really ought to have to put in. CAPO: 1st Fret/KEY: G#/PLAY: G G After twenty nine long years of workin' A7 In this shop with Oney standin' o- ver me ... D7 To-day when that old whistle blows G I'll check in all my gear and I'll re- tire ... The superintendent just dropped by and said A7 They'd planned my little get to- gether ... D7 Then he said I'd never made it G If old Oney hadn't held me to the fire. I've seen him in my dreams at night And woke up in the mornin' feelin' tired ... And old Oney don't remember when I came here How he tried to get me fired ... With his folded hands behind him Every mornin' Oney waited at the gate ... Where he'd rant and rave like I committed murder Clockin' in five minutes late. CHANGE TO A: A But today they'll gather 'round me B7 Like I've seen 'em do when any man retires ... E7 Then old Oney's gonna tell me A >From now on I'm free to do what I desire ... He'll present me with that little old gold watch B7 They give a man at times like this ... E7 But there's one thing he's not countin' on A Today's the day I give old Oney his. CHANGE TO C: C I've been workin', buildin' muscles D7 Oney's just been standin' 'round a-get- tin' soft ... G7 And today about four-thirty C I'll make up for every good night's sleep I've lost ... When I'm gone I'll be remembered D7 As the workin' man who put his point across ... G7 With a right hand full of knuckles C 'Cause today I show old Oney who's the boss. Hmmmm! What time is it? Four thirty! Hey, Oney! Oney! Ha ha ha ha!