He was black and handsome And mighty mighty brave Comin' from the backwoods The grandson of a slave He was caught for something They knew he'd never done And he was diggin' ditches Out in the burnin' sun
Working on the chain gang-No More Working on the chain gang-No More Working on the chain gang-No More Working on the chain gang-No More No more, no more, no more
Man he was a giant And iron he could bend And he swore he'd fight them Down to the bitter end Though he was no talker His burnin' eyes would say You may keep on tryin' can't hold me no way
Working on the chain gang-No More Working on the chain gang-No More Working on the chain gang-No More Working on the chain gang-No More No more, no more, no more
And one night he lay in waiting Hit the guard and took the key And before the others caught him He jumped out and he was free He jumped out and he was free
He made for the swamp lands It seemed a hopeless duel They had dogs and shotguns And they were mighty cruel But they couldn't find him He was too smart and strong Hiding' in the daytime wandering all night long
Working on the chain gang-No More Working on the chain gang-No More Working on the chain gang-No More Working on the chain gang-No More Working on the chain gang-No More Working on the chain gang-No More
