Breaking up big rocks on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
'Cause they convicted me of crime

Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well, reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
But I still got so terribly long to go
 [bad word] crime, Lord I needed
Crime of bein' hungry and poor
I left the grocery store man bleeding
When they caught me robbin' his store

Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well, reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
But I still got so terribly long to go

And judges say five years o' hard labor
On chain-gang you gonna go
I heard the judge say five years o' labor
I heard my old man scream,"Lordy, no!"

Oh, hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well, reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
But I still got so terribly long to go

Wanna see my sweet honey baby
Wanna break this chain off [bad word] Wanna lay down somewhere shady
Lord, I sure it's hot in the sun

Hold it right there while I hit it
Well, reckon that ought to get it
Been workin' and workin'
But I still got so terribly long to go

Breaking up big rocks on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time