On a Monday, 
I was arrested, uh, huh
On a Tuesday, they locked me in the jail, poor 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, uh, huh
On a Tuesday, got my ball and chain, poor boy
On a Wednesday, 
I'm workin' diggin' ditches
On a Thursday, 
Lord I'd 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 momma come to see me, uh, huh
On a Tuesday, they caught me with a file, poor boy
On a Wednesday, 
I'm down in 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