Yeah you know I worked on the railroad

I even worked down on that chain gang

Yeah you know I worked on the railroad

Oh boy and I worked down on the chain gang



Yeah they put me in jail when it was raining

Honey that was the best for me

Throwed me in the jail when it was raining

Honey and that is the best for me

You know the jail kept me in [from] the wet

I didn't have no place to stay, don't you know



When I workin' on the chain gang,

ball and chain all around my leg

I was workin' on the chain gang,

ball and chain all around my leg

I said Please don't drive me too hard, I'm an old man

They say We don't pay no attention to the age



He said Who sent you down here, boy

What did you break in this jail for?

Who sent you down here, boy

What did you break in this jail for?

He say You look like a man would kill your mother

(And I believe he did)

Oh boy what did you kill that old woman for?

(A sad time, and I had to cry...)



I said mmmmmmm mister jailer,

will you please sir bring me the key

I said mmmmmmm mister jailer,

will you please sir bring me the key

I says I just want you to open the door

Cause this ain't no place for me