—Traditional
My honey dear I know you thought to ask
Just where I been since I saw you last
Well I been down to where the hammers clang
Yes I been down on the old chain gang.
They sent me up on a two year bid
I soon forgot what it was I did
They chained me down with a dozen men
I can't believe I'm in your arms again.
Night and day I got no rest
Just hold me tight to your loving breast
See where the chain on my ankle swang
Well that's the mark of the old chain gang.
You'll never dream what a life I led
On the old chain gang you're better off dead
I'll never forget those songs we sang
While breakin' rocks on the old chain gang.
The old chain gang it's a tough old crew
The boss is hard, I'm a tellin' you
He drug me out to the cellhouse door
And laid me out on the old stone floor.
The boss was off on a drunk one day
I drug my chain where the crow bar lay
I throwed her down and the lock she sprang
And said farewell to the old chain gang.
Verse:
| I | I | IV | I |
| IV | I | V | I |