Johnny Cash: Oney

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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

I dedicate this song to the workin' man

For every man that puts in eight or ten hard hours a day

Of work and toil and sweat

Always got somebody lookin' down his neck

Tryin' to get more out of him

Than he really ought to have to put in

After twenty nine long years of workin'

In this shop with Oney standin' over me

Today when that old whistle blows

I'll check in all my gear and I'll retire

The superintendent just dropped by

And said they'd planned my little get together

Then he said I'd never a made it

If old Oney hadn't a held me to the fire

I've seen him in my dreams at night

And 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.

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 a gettin' 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 a workin' man who put his point across

With a right hand full of knuckles

'Cause today I show old Oney who's the boss

Hmmmm, what time is it? Four thirty?

Hey, Oney!

Oney! Ha ha ha ha!

 Words and Music by Jerry Chesnut