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!