This was mentioned by Jacob B on 02 May 00. It’s in the Digital Tradition Database, but the DT doesn’t correctly show its chorus, so I’ll correct it here. I verified the lyrics (and made some small changes) based on the recording at YouTube. It is also on Spotify.


GO TO WORK ON MONDAY
As recorded by Si Kahn on “Thanksgiving,” 2007.

I did my part in World War Two, got wounded for the nation.
Now my lungs are all shot down; there ain't no compensation.

CHORUS: I'm gonna go to work on Monday one more time.
I'm gonna go to work on Monday one more time, one more time.
I'm gonna go to work on Monday one more time.

Now the doctor says I smoke too much; he says that I'm not tryin’.
He says he don't know what I've got, but we both know he's lyin’. CHORUS

The last time I went near my job, I thought my lungs were broken.
Chest bound down like iron bands, I couldn't breathe for chokin’. CHORUS

Now the politicians in this state, they're nothin’ short of rotten.
They buy us off with fancy words and sell us out to cotton. CHORUS

The doctor says both lungs are gone; there ain't no way to shake it.
But I can't live without a job; somehow I've got to take it. CHORUS

They tell me I can't work at all; there ain't no need of tryin’.
But living like some used-up thing is just this short of dyin’. CHORUS

Sittin’ on my front-porch swing, I'm like someone forgotten:
Head all filled with angry thoughts and lungs filled up with cotton. CHORUS

- - -
There are other recordings by:
The Blinky Moon Boys on “Moonlite Theatre,” 2004.
Johnny Collins on “Pedlar of Songs,” 2009.
Paul Downes and Phil Beer on “Live at Nettlebed,” 2009.
Paul Downes on “Overdue,” 2010.
Roy Bailey on “Sit Down & Sing,” 2013.
Elijah Bedel on “Live and Learn,” 2020.
Free Pickin’ on “25 Jaar,” 2021.