Hey now, you'd better listen to me every one of you
We've got a lotta, lotta, lotta, lotta work to do
Forget about your women and your water can
Today you're workin' for the man

(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh)

I'm a-pickin' 'em up
And I'm layin' 'em down
I believe he's gonna work me into the ground
Now I'ma pull to the left
Heave to the right
I wanna kill him, but it wouldn't be right

'Cause I'm workin' for the man
Workin' for the man
I gotta lend him a hand
Workin' for the man

(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh)

Pick up your feet
We got a deadline to meet
I'm gonna see you make it on time
And now, don't relax
I want elbows and backs
I wanna see everybody from behind
'Cause you're workin' for the man
Workin' for the man
You gotta lend him a hand
Workin' for the man

Boss man's daughter sneaks in the water
Every time her daddy's down the line
She says, "Meet me tonight, love me right
And everything's gonna be fine"
So I slave all day without much pay
I'm just a-bidin' my time
'Cause company and the daughter, you see
Are both gonna be all mine

Yeah, I'm gonna be the man
Gonna be the man
You gotta lend me a hand
If I'm gonna be the man

Yeah, I'm gonna be the man
Gonna be the man
Gotta lend me a hand
If I'm gonna be the man

(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Pickin' 'em up (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Before layin' 'em down (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Working for the man (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
For the man (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Working for the man (Oh-oh-oh-oh)