I dedicate this song to the workin' man. For ev'ry man that puts in

Eight or ten hard hours a day of workin', toil and sweat.

He's always got somebody lookin' down his neck,

Tryin' to get more out of him than he really oughta have to put in.

After twenty-nine long years of workin' in this shop

With Oney standin' over me,

Today when that old whistle blows

I'll check in all my gear and I'll retire.

The superintendent just dropped by and said they had planned

My little get-to-gether.

Then he said I'd never made it 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,

Ev'ry mornin' Oney waited at the gate,

Where he'd rant and rave like I committed murder

Clockin' in five minutes late.

But today they'll gather 'round me

Like I've seen 'em do when a man retires.

Then old Oney's gonna tell me from now on

I'm free to do what I desire.

He'll present me with that little old gold watch

They give a man at times like this.

But there's one thing he's not countin' on:

Today's the day I give old Oney his.

I been workin' buildin' muscles;

Oney's just been standin' 'round a gettin' soft.

And today about 4:30 I'll make up

For ev'ry good night sleep I've lost.

When I'm gone, I'll be remembered as

A workin' man that put his point across.

With a right hand full of knuckles,

'Cause today I show old Oney who's the boss.

Mm, what time is it? 4:30?

Hey, Oney? Oney? Ha, ha, ha..