G

G                      C             G
About five years ago I didn't have a cent
   C             G          D           G
So looking for a job to the music man I went
    G                      C              G
The manager he said, "This band is got to roll
    C                G      D              G
So climb aboard with me and hand over your soul"

[Chorus]
            G
And so it's pick and pickin' hard
   C                 G      C              G
As long as you can't stand pickin' all the day
        D       C     G
Workin' for the music man

[Verse]
    G                      C          G
The band began to roll and I lit up a smoke
      C           G                D              C
I was thinkin' to myself that this job was just a joke
    G                       C                   G
But then I heard a yell, "Put on your boots, my son
     C             G         D                G
Get off that dirty flood and make that guitar hum"

[Chorus]

            G
And so it's pick and pickin' hard
    C                G     C               G
As long as you can't stand pickin' all the day
        D       C     G
Workin' for the music man

[Verse]

   G                      C                G
So everywhere we went and tired as I could be
  C               G              D                C
I soon made up my mind that this life was not for me
    G                             C             G
But then I heard a shout, "You're hired for the run
   C              G       D                G
So get back up in here or make that guitar hum"

[Chorus]

            G
And so it's pick and pickin' hard
   C                 G     C               G
As long as you can't stand pickin' all the day
        D       C     G
Workin' for the music man

[Verse]

    G                      C                  G
Now listen to my song, you men who played for fun
     C             G            D              C
Keep clear a music man, they'll take you for a run
    G                          C              G
The pickin' life is tough, you better stop it quick
      C                   G               D             G
It'll leave you where you started, you're better off to quit

[Chorus]
             G
Or else it's pick and pickin' hard
   C                 G     C               G
As long as you can't stand pickin' all the day
        D       C     G
Workin' for the music man