Janis Gives Woodstock The Performance Of A Lifetime With “Work Me Lord”

Janis Gives Woodstock The Performance Of A Lifetime With “Work Me Lord” | Society Of Rock Videos

An Unforgettable Show

“I’d like to close with a tune by… uh, Nick Gravenitis, who I mentioned before because he’s such a fine song writer. This is a tune of his called “Work Me Lord.”

Closing her epic Woodstock performance in ’69, which was arguably her best live performance in her short but stunning singing career, Janis decided to cover the soulful ballad “Work Me Lord” with signature soft screams and pleas…

“Work me Lord, work me Lord. Please don’t you leave me, I feel so useless down here with no one to love…”

Janis seemed to gravitate toward the songs that provided the comfort she could not find in men, the lyrics were her only true love as she would make vocal love to the mic every time she stepped on stage. 

Interesting Fact: The studio version on Kozmic Blues did not quite crystallize for listeners of the album, but the live version was sung with strongervocals.

We often wonder if the free people of Woodstock were fully aware of the genius and beauty they were witnessing up on that stage in Bethel, NY- our only hope was that they savored every note, scream, giggle and brilliant gift that Janis shared with the world. We sure do…

+ Work Me Lord Lyrics +

Work me Lord, work me Lord.
Please don’t you leave me,
I feel so useless down here
With no one to love
Though I’ve looked everywhere
And I can’t find me anybody to love,
To feel my care.

So ah work me Lord, whoa use me Lord,
Don’t you know how hard it is
Trying to live all alone.
Every day I keep trying to move forward,
But something is driving me, oh, back,
Honey, something’s trying to hold on to me,
To my way of life.

So don’t you forget me down here, Lord,
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
Ah, ah, don’t you forget me, Lord.
Well I don’t think I’m any very special
Kind of person down here, I know better,
But I don’t think you’re gonna find anybody,
Not anybody who could say that they tried like I tried,
The worst you can say all about me
Is that I’m never satisfied. Whoa.

Whoa, oh, oh, work me Lord, hmm, use me Lord,
Please, honey, don’t you leave me,
I feel so useless down here.
I can’t find me anybody to love me
And I’ve looked around,
I’ve looked everywhere, everywhere
And I can’t find me anyone to love,
To feel my care.

So honey don’t you go and leave me, Lord,
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
Honey, don’t you go off and leave me, Lord.
Can’t I show you how hard it is
Trying to live when you’re all alone.
Everyday I keep pushing,
Keep trying to move forward
But something is driving me, oh, back,
And something’s trying to hold on to me,
To my way of life, why.

Oh please, please, oh don’t you go and
Forget me down here, don’t forget me, Lord.
I think that maybe you can ease me,
Maybe I can help you, said uh whoa,
Oh please, please, don’t you go and leave me Lord,
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, whoa, whoa please,
Hmm please, don’t you leave me, Lord.

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