Locked up and rotting in these prison walls
I tremble and shake when the prison guard calls
I like to think he's letting me out of this pen
But instead he's taking, taking me back to work again
Stumbling and shuffling down the prison hall
Tied to a chain with a big heavy ball

He takes me to the same run down dirty old bus
There's barely room for the thirty of us
Going to a job that we all know where
But deep down in our souls none of us care
Now you can try to escape you can give it a try
But the only real freedom is the day you die

So here I am in a ball and chain
Laying down track for some damned old train
Oh Lord why have you put me on this cursed chain gang
Oh Lord, why me?

Now I'm swinging a big heavy hammer
Laying down miles of rail
Better get them straight I better not fail
Pounding spikes all day into these wooden ties
While the straw boss stares at me with hate in his eyes
(He's a mean one all right........He's the Devil in disguise)

Music...

At last......The boiling hot sun is going down
As we climb back into that bus to go back to town
Back to that prison that living hell
And spend another night of my life in a six by six cell
As the jailer slams the door with a crashing loud bang
I ask the Lord why oh why am I on this chain gang

And I'm asking you oh Lord to make things right
Could you please take me take me tonight
Oh Lord please take me........Take me home tonight
or.....give me something to look forward to tomorrow.