Em
Breaking out here rocks on the chain gang
Em
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Em
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
Em                    B7
Lord I've been convicted me of crime
Em
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Em
I reckon that ought to get it
Am             Em
Been working, lord, been working here
Em
I got a long way to go


[Verse 2]
Em
I committed crime lord I needed
Em
Crime of being hungry and poor
Em
I left the grocery store man bleeding
Em                    B7
Lordy caught me robbing his store
Em
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Em
I reckon that ought to get it
                            Am          Em
Been working here, lord, been working here
Em
I got a long way to go


[Verse 3]
Em
I heard the judge say five years labor
Em
On chain-gang you gonna go
Em
I heard the judge say five years labor
                          B7
I heard my woman scream "lordy, no!"
Em
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Em
I reckon that ought to get it
Am              Em
Been working here, working, oh lord
Am              Em
I got so terribly far to go


[Verse 4]
Em
I gotta go make or break 'cause I'm grievin'
Em
Gotta break my chains off to run
Em
And if the boss man stops me from leavin'
                            B7
I tell you, lord I'm gonna get him one
Em
Hold him steady right there while I hit him
Em
I reckon that ought to get it
Am              Em  Am              Em
Been working lord, been working, oh lord
Em
I got a long way to go


[Outro]
Am                  Cm          B7 Em D C B7 Em
Lord, I'm moanin', I'm moanin', oh lord...