I was just a kid
Roaming around
Traveling through
A little old town
A man walked up and said
"Come with me
You're broke and son
That's vagrancy"
A carefree lad
That love to roam
But, Lord, I wish
I'd stayed at home
The way it looks
I'll probably hang
Cause there ain't no hope
On a chain gang
I dig that ditch
I chop that corn
I curse the day
That I was born
I believe it's better
For a man to hang
Than to work like a dog
On a chain gang
The guard stands there
With a great big gun
I bet he'd love
To see me run
And I guess, I probably
Will some day
I'd rather be dead
Than to live this way
He's well fed
And he's six foot tall
And he's a meanest
Of them all
He cracks that whip
And he swings that cane
That sun
Must've touched his brain
I dig that ditch
I chop that corn
I curse the day
That I was born
I believe it's better
For a man to hang
Than to work like a dog
On a chain gang
I got a gal back home
That's sweet and kind
But she's been waiting
A long, long time
I just told her
To forget my name
I won't ever
Live down the shame
Lord, deliver me
From this hole
Before I lose
My mind and soul
The flesh gets weak
And the back gets broke
There ain't no cause
To laugh and joke
I dig that ditch
I chop that corn
I curse the day
That I was born
I believe it's better
For a man to hang
Than to work like a dog
On a chain gang
Work like a dog
On a chain gang
Work like a dog
On a chain gang
Work like a dog
On a chain gang