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
When I woke up / there were shackles on my feet.
Twenty nine links / of chain around my leg
Twenty nine links / of chain around my leg
And on each link / 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
I'm worried now / but I won't be worried long.

I asked the judge / 'what might be my fine ?'
I asked the judge / 'what might be my fine ?'
Twenty one years / on the R.C. Mountain Line.
Train came around / sixteen coaches long
The train came around / sixteen coaches long
The girl I love / is on that train and gone.

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.

If anyone should ask you / 'who composed this song ?'
If anyone should ask you / 'who composed this song ?'
Tell him it was me / and I sing it all day long.

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.