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!