Workin’ Man is a bluesy sort of song that tells the story of  a young man who took on the responsibility of helping his mama provide for their family after his father passed away before he was nine years old. He became the ‘man of the family’ at an early age and was always there to lend her a hand.  As he grew up, not only did he learn the value of work and responsibility – he learned from his mother’s example that material goods and possessions weren’t the important aspects of life: “My mama she raised me the best she could, She gave us a roof and we had enough food, We didn’t have much when I was a boy, But she gave us love and filled our home with joy.”

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I recorded “Workin’ Man” in one take as part of Set 4 playing my 12-string acoustic Ovation guitar ~ and it turned out as best as this songwriter could ever hope to expect! 🙂 This song tells the fictional story of a son who has to step up and help his mother support their family…and becomes a workin’ man! Enjoy! ♡ 🙂 Mark

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(Note: Emailed versions of these songs lose their chord alignment and formatting, so refer to the original post and/or the scanned lyric sheet as your guide!)

Workin’ Man

“Take It To The People”, Collected Works Volume XIV, Copyright 1993, Mark D. Jones, All Rights Reserved

Intro:

E   G   E   G   D   E     (x2)

G   D   E     (x2)

Verse One:

     E                                 D         E

My mama she knew I was a workin’ man

G                                  D                E

Workin’ every day by the sweat of my hands

E                        D             E

Up in the mornin’ before the dawn

G                              D             E

Workin’ for a livin’ the whole day long     (x2)

     E                                  D       E

My papa passed away before I was nine

     G                                    D    E

My mama had to start workin’ overtime

        E                                 D    E

Then I became the man of the family

       G                                  D                 E

And went to work ’cause they depended on me     (x2)

Chorus:

      E                      G         E

I’ve lived the life of a workin’ man

       E                                   G        E

Ever since I was old enough to lend a hand

     E                        G                 E

My mama she always depended on me

     G                                 D   E

To help her take care of the family     (x3)

Bridge:

E   G   E   G   D   E     (x2)

G   D   E     (x2)

Verse Two:

     E                                 D            E

My mama she raised me the best she could

       G                              D               E

She gave us a roof and we had enough food

      E                               D         E

We didn’t have much when I was a boy

            G                                   D              E

But she gave us love and filled our home with joy     (x2)

     E                                               D           E

My mama always knew that she could count on me

                    G                                  D   E

And I’ve been workin’ all my life for our family

      E                               D              E

We never had anything we didn’t work for

        G                                              D       E

And I always helped my mama give our family more     (x2)

Verse Three:

            E                                     D         E

Now my mama spends her time in a rockin’ chair

             G                             D          E

With her grandchildren and the love we share

       E                                        D         E

She tells them that their papa is a workin’ man

        G                                 D                E

Who worked every day by the sweat of his hands     (x2)

            E                          D         E

Now I’m lookin’ back on the life I’ve lived

         G                        D            E

Just a workin’ man givin’ all I could give

     E                           D             E

I’d never ever change a day of my life

        G                                  D                 E

But I wish my papa could have shared in my life     (x2)