Kate & Anna McGarrigle - The Work Song lyrics

Back before the blues were blue When the good ol' songs were new Songs that may no longer please us 'Bout the darkies, about Jesus Mississippi minstrels color of mola**es Strummed their banjos to entertain their ma**as Some said garbage, others cried art You couldn't call it soul, you had to call it heart Backs broke bending digging holes to plant the seeds The owners ate the cane and the workers ate the weeds Put the wood in the stove, the water in the cup You worked so hard that you died standing up When I was a little thing Papa tried to make me sing Home Sweet Home and Aura Lee These were songs that my daddy tought me Camptown Races and Susannah Don't You Cry Gentle Annie still brings a tear to my eye Label it garbage, label it art You couldn't call it soul, you had to call it heart Backs broke bending digging holes to plant the seeds The owners ate the cane and the workers ate the weeds Put the wood in the stove, the water in the cup You worked so hard that you died standing up Sing me songs of days gone by Make me laugh, make me cry Break my female heart in two Sing me songs that say "I love you" Lower your eyes, raise your hand to your breast Sing me one about the sun setting in the west Backs broke bending digging holes to plant the seeds The owners ate the cane and the workers ate the weeds Put the wood in the stove, the water in the cup You worked so hard that you died standing up Wood's in the stove, water's in the cup You worked so hard that you died standing up