The old chain gang
I was just a lad nearly twenty-one When they put me on the chain gang for things I had done Swinging that pick and shovel all day long And wondering if my baby was a-doing me wrong The sun was shining down, the sweat a-rolling off of me chains on my legs keep a-pulling at me Guards a-watching me with a big shot gun Just a-waiting on me to take a chance and run Well the boss man went on a drunk one day I pulled my chain to where that old axe lay I took that axe and I cut my chain And I said bye, bye to the old chain gang