Hey now, you'd better listen to me, every one of you We've got a lotta lotta lotta lotta work to do Forget about your women and that water can Today you're workin' for the man I'm pickin' 'em up and I'm layin' 'em down I believe he's gonna work me into the ground I'm a pull to the left, I heave to the right I oughta kill him but it wouldn't be right 'Cause I'm workin' for the man, workin' for the man I gotta lend him a hand, workin' for the man Pick up your feet, we've got a deadline to meet I'm gonna see you make it on time And don't relax, I want elbows and backs I wanna see everybody from behind 'Cause you're workin' for the man, workin' for the man You gotta lend him a hand, workin' for the man Well the boss' daughter sneaks in deep water Every time her daddy's down the line She says "Meet me tonight, love me right And everything is gonna be fine" So I slave all day without much pay I'm just a-bidin' my time 'Cause the company and the daughter you see They're both gonna be all mine Yeah I'm gonna be the man, gonna be the man You gotta lend me a hand if I'm gonna be the man Yeah I'm gonna be the man, gonna be the man You gotta lend me a hand if I'm gonna be the man