Song Lyric Sunday – Chain Gang

Well, I sure am on an “oldies but goldies” streak lately.

Jim Adams (who has taken over SLS from Helen Vahdati), from “A Unique Title For Me” picked a great topic for this week’s SLS – Occupations. While I doubt anyone would call working on a chain gang a desirable career, it did make for a great hit for Sam Cooke in 1960. Cooke co-wrote and recorded the song, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top 100 charts.

The song is unique and catchy with background vocals doing the grunts (Hoh ah, hoh ah) of workers doing hard labor. It immediately draws you into the feeling of the song. Even though it is sounds of pain and fatigue, I always seem to smile when I hear it. Cook’s deep voice and soulful style just add to the appeal.

I hope you enjoy it too!

Lydia!

Chain Gang

[Intro]
Hoh ah, hoh, I hear something saying
Hoh ah, hoh ah
Hoh ah, hoh ah

[Chorus]
Well don’t you know
That’s the sound of the men
Working on the chain, gang
That’s the sound of the men
Working on the chain, gang

[Bridge]
All day long they’re saying, hoh ah
Hoh ah, hoh ah, hoh ah

[Chorus]
Well don’t you know
That’s the sound of the men
Working on the chain, gang
That’s the sound of the men
Working on the chain, gang

[Verse 1]
All day long they work so hard till the sun is going down
Working on the highways and byways and wearing, wearing a frown
You hear they moaning their lives away
Then you hear somebody say;

Well don’t you know
That’s the sound of the men
Working on the chain, gang
That’s the sound of the men
Working on the chain, gang

[Verse 2]
Can’t you hear them singing, mmm hoh ah
I’m going home one of these days
I’m going home, see my woman
Whom I love so dear
But meanwhile, I gotta work right here

[Chorus]
Well don’t you know
That’s the sound of the men
Working on the chain, gang
That’s the sound of the men
Working on the chain, gang

[Outro]
All day long they’re singing, mm hoh ah
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my work is so hard
Give me water, I’m thirsty, my, my work is so hard
Woah oh
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my work is so hard

Songwriters Sam Cooke and Charles Cooke Jr
Lyrics from Genius Lyrics
Information from Wikipedia