It takes a worried man to sing a worried song It takes a worried man to sing a worried song It takes a worried man to sing a worried song I'm worried now but I won't be worried long I went across the river and I lay down to sleep I went across the river and I lay down to sleep I went across the river and I lay down to sleep When I woke up I had shackles on my feet Twenty-one links of chain around my leg There was twenty one links of chain around my leg Twenty-one links of chain around my leg And upon each link there's an initial of my name It takes a worried man to sing a worried song It takes a worried man to sing a worried song It takes a worried man to sing a worried song I'm worried now but I won't be worried long I asked that judge, "What's gonna be my fine?" Asked that judge, "Say, what's gonna be my fine?" I asked that judge, "What's gonna be my fine?" Said, "Twenty-one years on the Rocky Mountain mine" It takes a worried man to sing a worried song Yes, it takes a worried man to sing a worried song It takes a worried man to sing a worried song I'm worried now but I won't be worried long