| JOHNNY CASH |
| ~ ONEY ~ |
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| ONEY (HISTORY) This is one of the few songs that I have actually written for a particular Artist. Larry Butler came to me and said he had a chance to produce Johnny Cash if he could find him a Hit Song. Years before, I had worked for the Florida East Coast Railroad shops and had a foreman named Frank Oney that stood over and pushed his men to the point of slavery. I thought a song about him and what I'd liked to have done to him would be right down Cash's alley. I wrote it and took it to Butler. He recorded it on Johnny Cash, and I got letters from the Wall Street Journal requesting the lyrics on it to print in their paper. They said it was the first song they had ever heard about the working man. This was a Number 1, BMI award winning record, that I thought Johnny Cash performed to perfection! JERRY |
| ONEY After 29 long years of workin' in this shop With Oney standing over me Today when that old whistle blows I'll check in all my gear an I'll retire The superintendent just dropped by And said they'd 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 Then woke up in the morning feeling tired Old Oney don't remember when I came here How he tried to get me fired With his folded hands hehind him Every morning Oney waited at the gate Where he'd rant and rave like I'd comitted murder Clocking 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... I've been workin' buildin' muscles Oney's just been standin' round and getting soft And today about four thirty I'll make up for every good night's sleep I've lost When I'm gone I'll be remembered As the working man that put his point across WIth a right hand full of knuckles Cause today I show old Oney, who's the boss What time is it? Four thirty? Hey Oney, Oney...... Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha (Words and Music by JERRY CHESNUT) |
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