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