—printed in Carl Sandburg's The American Songbag, 1927
Chorus:
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
Summers almost gone, winters coming on
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
And I feel like I've gotta travel on
High sheriff and police riding after me
Riding after me, yes, coming after me
High sheriff and police riding after me
And I feel like I've gotta travel on
Poppa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home
Johnny can't come home, no, Johnny can't come home
Poppa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home
Cause he's been on the chain gang too long
Want to see my honey, want to see her bad
Want to see her bad, oh, want to see her bad
Want to see my honey, want to see her bad
She's the best gal this poor boy ever had
Verse:
| I | I | I | I |
| I | I | IV | I |
| I | I | I | I |
| IV | V | I | I |