Workingman's Prayer Lyrics - Ed Bruce

Lord, put your hand to the handle of my hoe 

Let me make another step, help me go another row 

Even know I'm tired, got to try to make a dollar 

For my wife and kids, living over in the holler 

Every morning I get up and look at the sky 

And I know if I'm gonna work lord, the sun's gotta shine 

But I'm gettin old before my time, broke down body and mind 

And sometimes when I don't see a rain cloud floatin by 

Lord I just feel like dyin 

My pa used to tell me when I was a boy 

Son them big white fleely clouds ain't nothin 

But the cottonfields of the Lord 

So after all these years of plantin and choppin and pickin 

If I do get to the heaven lord like I've been tryin 

And them clouds be what pa said so 

Lord, I hope your angels know how to use a hoe 

Lord, put your hand to the handle of my hoe 

Let me make another step, help me go another row 

Even know I'm tired, got to try to make a dollar 

For my wife and kids, living over in the holler 

The boss plane came down at the house a few days before christmas last year 

He asked what me and the missis had planned christmas day 

I kinda laughed and like we could have plans, we just hadn't it settle on that way 

He asked to missis we come up and cook christmas dinner for him and his 

Said to bring the whole family and join in the tri manse 

Well, we went up to big house Lord, and I never saw such an evening 

And the boss's wife give all my kids brand new shoes to warm their feets 

And I guess maybe I cried a little 

And that night, when I got home, I got down on my knees 

And I thanked to you lord, remember 

Lord, put your hand to the handle of my hoe 

Let me make another step, help me go another row 

Even know I'm tired, got to try to make a dollar 

For my wife and kids, living over in the holler 

And then there was a time my wife said You just got to slow down, man 

I said, honey, I got make it while I can 

So I worked three days, Lord, without stopping 

For Miss Simmons down the road, had wood needed chopping 

Sam Fallow over east, had hay needed bailing 

Old man Turner wanted his holler fixed before time spring planting 

The fourth day I was down on my back, Lord 

But I got it all done before the sky turned black 

Now, I ain't complaining Lord, but sometimes when you see me stumble 

Reach down and lift the hand on my sack 

Make my hammer a little lighter, and my dollar a little stronger 

Lord, Make my days a little shorter and my nights a little longer 

And if there's anything 

I can do for you, Lord 

Let me know what's to be done 

And I will be done 

Well, goodnight, Lord