Written by Jerry Chestnut

Recorded by Johnny Cash on 6/5/72

Number 2 - County Chart



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.



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'd planned my little get together ...

Then he said I'd never a 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

Every 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 any 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've been workin', buildin' muscles

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

And today about four-thirty

I'll make up for every good night's sleep I've lost ...

When I'm gone I'll be remembered

As the workin' man who put his point across

With a right hand full of knuckles

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



Hmmmm! What time is it? Four thirty!

Hey, Oney!

Oney! Ha ha ha ha!