Breakin' up big rocks on
uh chain gang
breakin' rocks an' servin' my time
Breakin' rocks ou' here
on the chain gang
'cause I been convicted o' crime
Hol' it steady right there
while I hit it
There I reckon that oughtta git it
Been workin' an' workin'
but I still got so terrible long to go
I commit the crime
Lawd o' needin' crime o' bein'
hungry and poor
Left the grocer
store man a' bleedin'
when he caught me
robbin' his store
Hol' it steady right there
while I hit it
There I reckon that oughtta git it
Been workin' an' workin'
but I still got so terrible long to go
Judge he say
Five years hard labor
on the chain gang you goin' t' go
Heard the judge say
Five years o' labor
Heard my old man scream
Lawdy no
Hol' it steady right there
while I hit it
There I reckon that oughtta git it
Been workin' an' workin'
an' workin' again
but I still got so terrible long to go
Wanna see my sweet honey baby
wanna break this chain off an' run
wanna lay down
somewhere it's shady
Lawd it sure is hot in the sun
Hol' it steady right there
while I hit it
There I reckon that oughtta git it
Been workin' an' workin'
but I still got so terrible long to go