I’d rather be in Richmond in all the heat and rain
Then to be in Georgia, boys, a-wearing that ball and chain

Won’t get [bad word] no more
Won’t get [bad word] no more
Won’t get [bad word] no more
Way down the old plank road

Donie, oh dear Donie, what makes you treat me so
Caused me to wear the ball and chain and now my ankle’s sore…

Gonna build me a cabin on some mountain high
So I can see the pretty girls as they go riding by…

Now Knoxville is a pretty thing, Memphis is a beauty
If you want to see them pretty girls, now hop to Chattanoogie…

Well, my wife died on Friday night, Saturday she was buried
Sunday was my courting day and Monday I got married…