Go down … Hannah go down
And stay down …

Breakin' up these rocks on-a chain gang
Breakin' rocks and servin' my time
Breakin' up these rocks on-a chain gang
'cause I been convicted of a crime.

Hold it steady right there while I hit it … huh!
Oh, reckon that ought-a get it
Been workin' … I been workin'
But, I got me so terrible long to go.

I been convicted of the crime, Lord, of needin'
Crime of bein' hungry and poor
Had-a leave some grocery man bleedin'
When he found me robbin' his store.
Hold it steady right there while I hit it … huh!
Oh, reckon that ought-a get it
Been workin' … I been workin'
But, I got me so terrible long to go.

Heard a judge say, "Five years labor …
To the chain gang you got-a go."

Heard a judge say, "Five years labor."
Heard my woman scream, "Lordy, no!"
Hold it steady right there while I hit it … huh!
Oh, reckon that ought-a get it
Been workin' … I been workin'
But, I got me so terrible long to go.

Captain told me, "You got to watch your behavior …
If you're gonna work just like a natural born man."
I told the captain, "You'd be meetin' your Savior …
You come on close to this hammer in my hand."

Hold him steady right there while I hit him … huh!
Oh, reckon that ought-a get him
Been workin' … I been workin'
But, I got me so terrible long to go.

I wanna see my sweet, honey baby
I got to break these chains off and run
I wanna lay my head where it's shady
Lord knows it's hot in this sun.
Hold it steady right there while I hit it … huh!
Oh, reckon that ought-a get it
Been workin' … I been workin'
But, I got me so terrible long to go …

See I been workin' … I been workin' …
But, I got me so terrible long to go …
You know I got me so terrible long to go …
Lord … I got me so damn long to go!