Black and Blue - Manfred Mann's Earth Band

I been working so hard my back’s near broke

My brows are wet, my throat’s a-choke

You sent me here for ten long years

I miss my whiskey, I miss my beer

Well in my arm there’s a dreadful pain

It’s hard digging ditches with a ball and chain

I been working so hard my back’s near broke

My brows are wet, my throat’s a-choke

You sent me here for ten long years

I miss my whiskey, I miss my beer

Ain’t seen a gal since I don’t know when

And the way you treat me won’t see one again

You can beat me

You can try to break me

Still I’ll say to you

You’ll never break my spirit

When my body’s black and blue

Well in my arm there’s a dreadful pain

It’s hard digging ditches with a ball and chain

You broke my back 'cause I spat on a guard

That don’t make me no better, that just makes me hard

Your water it stinks 'cause it comes from a bog

And the food you serve me ain’t fit for a dog

Well, you can beat me

You can try to break me

But still I’ll say to you

You’ll never break my spirit

When my body’s black and blue