Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
Because I've been convicted of crime
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well I reckon that I ought to get it
I'm working I'm working
But I still got so terribly far to go

I committed crime honey-baby
The crime of being hungry and poor
I left the grocery store man bleeding
When they caught me robbing his store
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well I reckon that I ought to get it
I'm working and working
But I still got so terribly far to go

Gonna see my sweet honey baby
Gonna break this chain off to run
Gonna lay down somewhere shady
'Cause I sho' am hot in the sun
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well I reckon that I ought to get it
I'm workin', workin'
And I still got so terribly far to go