I dedicate this song to the working man For every man that puts in eight or ten hard hours a day Of work and toil and sweat Who's always get somebody looking down his neck Trying to get more out of him than he really ought to have to put in
After 29 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's planned my little get-together 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 morning 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 morning Oney waited at the gate Where he'd rant and rave like I committeed 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 ha ha
I been workin' buildin' muscles Oney's just been standin' round a gettin' soft And today about 4:30 I'll make up for every 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 Humm what time is it 4:30 hey Oney Oney ha-ha-ha