I did all I could baby, your mind, Well I up every morning you got me moaning and crying. Trying to send me to the chain gang, back to the murderers' I'd have been in a shape mama, if I'd let that reckless woman alone.
Now I'm gonna have to you my number, 4-11-44, I'll be there forever, I ain't got no wheres to go. Cause I've got to go to the chain gang, to the murderers' home I'd have been in a better shape mama, if I'd let reckless woman alone.
He was a old judge, wouldn't give me no fine, thing going to relieve me is old Father Time, I got to go to the gang, back to the murderers' home I would been in a better shape mama, if I'd have let that reckless woman alone.
When I was down in the alley mama drinking that old mean and gin, Say you better do your running cause you ain't never going to do it again 'Cause it leads me straight to the chain gang, down to the home, I'd have been in a better shape mama, if I'd let that reckless woman alone.
Goodbye everybody here the jailer with a key, Farewell to freedom I don't no one to pity me, I'm going to the chain gang, to the murderers' home, I'd have been in a better shape mama, if I'd let that reckless woman alone.
So now bye-bye all you womens this is the last got to say Say I'm going on and make my time I'll be a man some day, But I ain't going back to the chain gang, to the murderers' home, I'd have in a better shape baby, if I'd have let that reckless woman alone.