[Chorus: Marva Whitney & James Brown]
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
Lord, if you don't work, you can't eat

[Verse 1: Marva Whitney & James Brown]
You've got to have a job to put meat on the table
You've got to have a job to keep your family able
You've got to have a job to get your every need
Said you've got to have a job to buy yourself a screen

[Chorus: Marva Whitney & James Brown]
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat

[Verse 2: Marva Whitney & James Brown]
Now wait a minute...
You've got to have a job to put shoes on your feet
You've got to have a job to buy that family meat
You've got to have a job if you want to be healthy and able
You've got to have a job if you want to sop that gravy

[Chorus: Marva Whitney & James Brown]
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
[Bridge: (Marva Whitney) & James Brown]
Maceo...call him (Maceo)
Call him! (Maceo)
Call him! (Maceo)
Call him! (Maceo)
Call him! (Maceo)
Call him! Call him! Call him! Huh!
Got to have a job (Got to)
Got to have a job (Got to)
Got to get it (Got to)
Got to have a job
Let's tell 'em one more time, baby

[Chorus: Marva Whitney & James Brown]
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat

[Verse 3: Marva Whitney & James Brown]
You've got to have a job to put the meat on the table
You've got to have a job to keep that family able
You've got to have a job to put the shoes on your feet
Huh, you've got to have a job to buy that family meat

[Chorus: Marva Whitney & James Brown]
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
[Bridge: (Marva Whitney) & James Brown]
Call Maceo (Maceo)
Oh, call him! (Maceo)
Call him! (Maceo)
Call him! (Maceo)
Call him! (Maceo)
Call him! (Maceo)
Call him a little while, call him (Maceo)
Let me hear you scream (I wanna know you're listening now)
Call him (Maceo, I want you to hear me out now, Maceo)

[Chorus: Marva Whitney & James Brown]
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat

[Bridge: (Marva Whitney) & James Brown]
Call Maceo, call Maceo (Maceo)
Maceo! (Maceo)
Call him! (Maceo)
Call him! (Maceo)
Call him! (Maceo)
Call him! Call him! Oh!
[Chorus: Marva Whitney & James Brown]
If you don't work, you can't eat
If you don't work, you can't eat