A
I got high, lord I got in jail,
           E                   A
lord I got high, and I got in jail.
        D                          A
I got high and I got in jail, had nobody for to go my bail,
                    E         A
My sins, they have overtaken me.

  A
Hand me down my walking' cane,
              E               A
lord hand me down my walkin' cane,
         D
Hand me down my walkin' cane,
             A
I'm a gonna leave on the morning train,
                       E      A
My sins, they have overtaken me.

Well, the beans was tough, and the meat was fat, 
oh the beans was tough, and the meat was fat,
well the beans was tough, and the meat was fat,
oh good god, I couldn't eat that,
My sins, they have overtaken me.

Well it's come on Ma, and go my bail,
Lord come on Mom, and go my bail,
Come on Mama and go my bail,
get me outta this Nashville jail,
My sins, they have overtaken me.

Well if I die in Tennessee,
lord if I die, in Tennessee,
boy if I die in Tennessee,
Ship me back by C.O.D.,
My sins, they have overtaken me.

So hand me down, my bottle a' corn,
oh hand me down that bottle a' corn,
hand me down my bottle a' corn,
gonna get drunk just sure as you're born,
My sins, they have overtaken me.

Hand me down my walking' cane,
lord hand me down my walking' cane,
Oh hand me down my walking' cane,
I'm a gonna leave on the morning train,
My sins, they have overtaken me.