After free form gospel piano Intro:
| B5 | B5 | A2 | A2 | A2 | E | B5 | B5 A2 |
B5
Workin' real hard in the heart of the city
A2
Noonday sun feelin' hot and sweaty
A2 E |B5 | B5 A2 |
Tryin' to make my pay tryin' to make my monthly rent
B5
Workin' real hard for the U S dollar
A2
Livin' real poor gonna make me holler
A2 E B5
I don't wanna live in the street like some folks do
E B5
I was raised up on the corner in front of a grocery store
F# G#m
Shinin' shoes with the daily news for two bits on the floor
E B5
But given the chance I'd go back to the days of a simpler time
F# F#7
Cause this ol' world's gone crazy and I'm about to lose my mind
B5
Workin' real hard in the heart of the city
A2
Noonday sun feelin' hot and sweaty
A2 E |B5 | B5 A2 |
Tryin' to make my pay tryin' to make my monthly rent
B5
Workin' real hard for the U S dollar
A2
Livin' real poor gonna make me holler
A2 E B5
I don't wanna live in the street like some folks do
E B5
My brother drives delivery right down on Dauphine Street
F# G#m
Had a little house by the railroad track, kinda small but it was neat
E B5
The police came and got him for robbin' a liquor store
F# F#7
And even though he didn't do it they got what they came for
B5
Workin' real hard in the heart of the city
A2
Noonday sun feelin' hot and sweaty
A2 E |B5 | B5 A2 |
Tryin' to make my pay tryin' to make my monthly rent
B5
Workin' real hard for the U S dollar
A2
Livin' real poor gonna make me holler
A2 E B5
I don't wanna live in the street like some folks do
G#m F#
It's a poor man who's life is bittersweet
E B5
Doesn't wanna lose that good thing that he's got
G#m F#
But that same ol' government who pays you every week
A2 E F#
Will come and take your home away and put you in the street
Drum Solo: | — | — | — | — |
Pianos in: | B5 | B5 | B5 | B5 | B5 | B5 | B5 | B5 |
Horns in: | B5 | B5 | E | E | B5 | B5 | B5 | B5 |
(repeats) | B5 | B5 | E | E | B5 | B5 | B5 | B5 |
Sax Solo: | B5 | B5 | A2 | A2 | A2 | E | B5 | B5 A2 |
| B5 | B5 | A2 | A2 | A2 | E | B5 | B5 A2 |
B5
Workin' real hard in the heart of the city
A2
Noonday sun feelin' hot and sweaty
A2 E |B5 | B5 A2 |
Tryin' to make my pay tryin' to make my monthly rent
B5
Workin' real hard for the U S dollar
A2
Livin' real poor gonna make me holler
A2 E B5
I don't wanna live in the street like some folks do
(repeat Chorus)
Outro: | B5 | B5 | A2 | A2 | A2 | E | B5 | B5 A2 |
| B5 | B5 | A2 | A2 | A2 | E | B5 | B5 A2 |
Charted by Dexex