I was sittin' beside the road in Blackjack County
Not knowin' that the sheriff paid a bounty
For men like me who didn't have a penny to our names
Well he locked my leg to thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chain

All we had to eat was bread and water
Each day we had to build that road a mile and a quarter
A black sneak whip would cut our backs when some poor fool complained
But you couldn't fight back wearin' thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chain
[ guitar ]
One night while the sheriff he laid sleepin'
We all gathered round him slowly creepin'
Heaven help me to forget that night in the cold cold rain
When we beat him death with thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chain

All the whip marks have all healed and I am thankful
All that there's nothing but a scar around my ankle
But most of all I'm glad no man will be a slave again
To a black sneak whip and thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chain
Blackjack County chain Blackjack County chain