[Intro]
When will we be paid
For the work we've done?
When will we be paid
For the work we've done?

[Verse 1]
We fought in your wars in every land
To keep this country free, y'all
For women, children and men
But every time
We ask for pay or a loan
That's when everything seems to turn out wrong

We been beat up
Called names
Shot down and stoned
Every time we do right
Somebody say we're wrong

[Chorus]
Tell me
When will we be paid
For the work we've done
When will we be paid
For the work we've done
[Verse 2]
Listen
We worked this country
From shore to shore
Our women cooked all your food
And washed all your clothes

We picked cotton
And laid the railroad steel
Worked our hands
Down to the bone at your lumber mill

[Chorus]
Tell me
When will we be paid
For the work we've done?
When will we be paid
For the work we've done?

[Bridge]
Will we ever be proud of
"My country, tis of thee"?
Will we ever sing out loud
"Sweet land of Liberty"?
When will we be paid
For the work we've done?
I wanna know
I wanna
I wanna
I wanna know
(When, when, when, when)

[Chorus]
When will we be paid
For the work we've done?
When will we be paid
For the work we've done?

Why can't we be paid?
Oh, oh
When
When will we be paid?
We've given up our sweat
Now

[Outro]
And all of our tears
Stumbled through this life
For more than three hundred years
I
I wanna know
The work we've done