It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long

I went across the river and I lay down to sleep
I went across the river and I lay down to sleep
I went across the river and I lay down to sleep
When I woke up I had shackles on my feet

Twenty-one links of chain around my leg
There was twenty one links of chain around my leg
Twenty-one links of chain around my leg
And upon each link there's an initial of my name

It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long

I asked that judge, "What's gonna be my fine?"
Asked that judge, "Say, what's gonna be my fine?"
I asked that judge, "What's gonna be my fine?"
Said, "Twenty-one years on the Rocky Mountain mine"

It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
Yes, it takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long

Songwriters
CARTER, A.P.