On a Monday
I was arrested
On a Tuesday
They locked me in the jail
Oh, boy
On a Wednesday
My trial was attested
On a Thursday
They said guilty
And the Judge's gavel fell
I got stripes
Stripes around my shoulders
I got chains
Chains around my feet
I got stripes
Stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains
They're about to drag me down
On a Monday
Got my striped britches
On a Tuesday
Got my ball and chain
Poor boy
On a Wednesday
I'm working digging ditches
On a Thursday
Lord, I begged them
Not to knock me down again
I got stripes
Stripes around my shoulders
I got chains
Chains around my feet
I got stripes
Stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains
They're about to drag me down
On a Monday
My mama come to see me
On a Tuesday
They caught me with a file
Poor boy
On a Wednesday
I'm down on solitary
On a Thursday
Lord, I start on bread
And water for a while
I got stripes
Stripes around my shoulders
I got chains
Chains around my feet
I got stripes
Stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains
They're about to drag me down