Johnny Cash — Chain Gang

[Verse 1] I was just a kid roaming around Traveling through, a little old town A man walked up and said come with me You are broke and son that's vagrancy A carefree lad that love to roam But Lord I wish I'd stayed at home The way it looks I'll probably hang Because there is no hope on a chain gang [Chorus] I dig that ditch, I chop that corn I curse the day that I was born I believe it's better for a man to hang Than to work like a dog on a chain gang [Verse 2] The guard stands there with a great big gun I bet he'd love to see me run And I guess, I probably will some day I'd rather be dead than to live this way He's well fed and he's six foot tall And he's a meanest of them all He cracks that whip and he swings that cane That sun must've touched his brain [Chorus] [Verse 3] I got a gal back home that's sweet and kind But she's been waiting a long, long time I just told her to forget my name I won't ever live down the shame Lord, deliver me from this hole Before I lose my mind and soul The flesh gets weak and the back gets broke There is no because to laugh and joke [Chorus]