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

I committed crime lord I needed
Crime of being hungry and poor
I left the grocery store man breathing
When they caught me robbing his store
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well I reckon that I'm gonna to get it
Been 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
Lord sure it's hot in the sun
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Well I reckon that I'm gonna get it
Been workin’ and workin’
But I still got so terribly far to go