ONEY
Words and music by Jerry Chesnut
As recorded by Johnny Cash on "Any Old Wind That Blows" (1973)

(SPOKEN:) I dedicate this song to the workin' man--for ev'ry man that puts in eight or ten hard hours a day of work and toil and sweat, 's always got somebody lookin' down his neck, tryin' to get more out of 'im than he really ought to have to put in.

CAPO: 1st Fret/KEY: G#/PLAY: G
[G] After twenty-nine long years of workin' in this shop with Oney standin' o-[A7] ver me,
To-[D7]day when that old whistle blows, I'll check in all my gear and I'll re-[G] tire.
The superintendent just dropped by and said they'd planned my little get to-[A7] gether,
Then [D7] he said I'd never made it if old Oney hadn't 'a' held me to the [G] fire.

I've seen him in my dreams at night 'n' 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.

CHANGE TO A:
[A] But today they'll gather 'round me like I've seen 'em do when any man [B7] retires,
Then [E7] old Oney's gonna tell me from now on I'm free to do what I [A] desire.
He'll present me with that little old gold watch they give a man at times [B7] like this.
But [E7] there's one thing he's not countin' on: today's the day I give old Oney [A] his.

CHANGE TO C:
[C] I've been workin', buildin' muscles; Oney's just been standin' 'round a-get-[D7] tin' soft.
And [G7] today about four-thirty I'll make up for every good night's sleep [C] I've lost.
When I'm gone I'll be remembered as the workin' man that put his point [D7] across
With [G7] a right hand full of knuckles, 'cause today I show old Oney who's the [C] boss.

(SPOKEN:) Hmmmm! What time is it? Four-thirty! Hey, Oney! Oney! Ha ha ha ha!