Bsus4  X2445X
         Cmaj7/G  332OOO
          D5/F#   2XO23O

Intro:  E5 D5 Dsus4 D D5      
Repeat Intro Sequence

Verse 1 

 E5                       D5                                                    
When I was a young man as all good tales begin
                                            single notes:5th string    4th string  3rd string    4th String
         A5 or A2        D5  E5                          open A h/o B  D           open  G        E
I was taught to hold out my  hand

Bridge: Play Intro chord sequence 

E5               D5
And for my pay I worked an honest day

      A2              D5       E5      single notes: A B D G E
and took what pittance I could win

Bridge: Play Intro chord sequence once 

Chorus as per Intro chord sequence

           E5   D5    Dsus4  D     D5
Now I'm a working John 
           E5   D5   Dsus4  D     D5
and I'm a working Joe
         E5        D5   Dsus4  D  D5
and I'm doing what I know
        Bsus4                 
for God and the Economy
       D5           Cmaj7/G
Big brother watches over me
              E5        D5             Dsus4 D D5     
And the state protects and feeds me
           E5         D5              Dsus4 D D5
And my conscience never leaves me
           E5      D5        Dsus4 D D5
And I'm loyal to the unions
            E5     D5        Dsus4 D D5
who protect me at all levels

Bridge: INTRO CHORD PATTERN TWICE OVER GUITAR G  O

Verse 2

E5                 D5
Now as I grew, the winds of fortune blew                     
        A5               D5   E5       single notes: A B D G E
and the bank smiled down upon me

Bridge: Intro chord pattern Once 


E5            D5
And mortgaged to the hilt I threw
      A2                D5       E5      single notes: A B D G E
the breeze of caution behind me

Bridge: Intro chord pattern once 

Chorus as Intro chord sequence

Now I'm a working John and I'm a working Joe
and I'm good at what I know
      Bsus4
And God and the Economy
             D5        Cmaj7/G
have blessed me with equality
        E5       D5             Dsus4 D D5
Now I'm equal to the best of you
        E5      D5           Dsus4 D D5
And better than the rest of you
             E5       D5       Dsus4 D5
who would criticise my success
         E5      D5        Dsus4 D5
in times of national unrest

Guitar solo: Intro twice and then play 2 bars each of B5 A5 (Bridge notes D Db A)
                                                      B5 A5 (triplets AEA AEA D Db D)                                                     
Verse 3
       D5/F#                  E5    D5              
Now I own a horseless carriage
                        E5  D5
in a central-heated garage
                            E5  D5
And I commute eight miles a day
                         E5  D5
up at seven to make it pay
                           E5 D5
I direct ten limited companies
                           E5   D5
with seeming consummate expertise
                           E5  D5
two ulcers and a heart disease
                            E5
a trembling feeling in both knees 

Chorus
 (Tacet)           Dsus4 D D5 E5              D5 E5  Dsus4 D D5
I'm a working John             and I'm a working Joe