who composed the jazz tunes the work song &dat der?

Answer 1

Work Song
Oscar Brown, Jr., Nat Adderly
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
Because they done convicted me of crime
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well reckon that ought to get it
Been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go

I commited crime lord I needed
Crime of being hungry and poor
I left the grocery store man bleeding (breathing? )
When they caught me robbing his store
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well reckon that ought to get it
Been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go

I heard the judge say five years
On chain-gang you gonna go
I heard the judge say five years labor
I heard my old man scream "lordy, no!"
Hold it right there while I hit it
Well reckon that ought to get it
Been working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go

Gonna see my sweet honey bee
Gonna break this chain off to run
Gonna lay down somewhere shady
Lord I sure am hot in the sun
Hold it right there while I hit it
Well reckon that ought to get it
Been workin’ and workin’
Been workin’ and slavin’
An’ workin’ and workin’
But I still got so terribly far to go

By Oscar brown jr, nat adderley

Dat Dere (written by: Brown/Bobby Timmons)

Hey mama, what's that there?
And what's that doing there?
Hey mama, up here!
Mama, hey look at that over there!
And what's that doing there?
And where're they going there?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?

Who's that in my chair?
And what's he doing there?
Mummy, up here!
Mummy, can I go over there?
Hey mummy, what is square?
And where do we get air?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?

Quit talking!
There's no more anything here!
Forever to manage to know who and why and where!
Quit that, child!
Sometimes the questions get filed!
And mummy can I have that big elehpant over there?

Don't wanna comb my hair
And where's my teddy bear?
Mummy, up here!
Look at the cowboy coming there!
And can I have a pair
Of boots like that to wear?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there?

Time will march
Days will go
And little baby's going to grow
I gotta tell her what she needs to know
I'll help her along
And she'll be strong
And she'll know right from wrong

As life's parade goes marching by
She's gonna need to know some reasons why
I don't have all the answers
But I'll try the best as I can
I'll make him a man, that's right

'Cause you give the kid your best
And hope she passes the test
And I find it so hard I taught him well ***
Somewhere though she's going I betting I never will forget ***
Mummy, can I have that big elephant over there?

Hey why they do that there?
And how you put that there?
Hey mummy, up here! Hey mummy, what that say up there?
Hey mummy, what is fair?
How come I have to share?
And mummy can I have that big elephant over there? (3x)

Answer 2

The Work Song was composed by Nat Adderley, Cannonball Adderleys trumpet playing brother. There is a great version of it on Paul Butterfield Blues Band - East West. Cannonball Adderley also did it.

Dat Der?

Answer 3

I can't say much more than your first poster, BUTTERFLY. What an answer. She did not mention it but someone else pointed out that Nat Adderly is the Cannonball's little brother. He is still living (I think) and that is one of his many really good compositions. The original recording was done by the Cannonball Adderly sextet with Nat on trumpet!