Go down Hannah go down

And stay down



Breakin' up these rocks on-a chain gang

Breakin' rocks and servin' my time

Breakin' up these rocks on-a chain gang

'cause I been convicted of a crime.

Hold it steady right there while I hit it huh!

Oh, reckon that ought-a get it

Been workin' I been workin'

But, I got me so terrible long to go.



I been convicted of the crime, Lord, of needin'

Crime of bein' hungry and poor

Had-a leave some grocery man bleedin'

When he found me robbin' his store.

Hold it steady right there while I hit it huh!

Oh, reckon that ought-a get it

Been workin' I been workin'

But, I got me so terrible long to go.



Heard a judge say, Five years labor

To the chain gang you got-a go.

Heard a judge say, Five years labor.

Heard my woman scream, Lordy, no!

Hold it steady right there while I hit it huh!

Oh, reckon that ought-a get it

Been workin' I been workin'

But, I got me so terrible long to go.



Captain told me, You got to watch your behavior

If you're gonna work just like a natural born man.

I told the captain, You'd be meetin' your Savior

You come on close to this hammer in my hand.

Hold him steady right there while I hit him huh!

Oh, reckon that ought-a get him

Been workin' I been workin'

But, I got me so terrible long to go.



I wanna see my sweet, honey baby

I got to break these chains off and run

I wanna lay my head where it's shady

Lord knows it's hot in this sun.

Hold it steady right there while I hit it huh!

Oh, reckon that ought-a get it

Been workin' I been workin'

But, I got me so terrible long to go



See I been workin' I been workin'

But, I got me so terrible long to go

You know I got me so terrible long to go

Lord I got me so damn long to go!

Copyright: EMI Music Publishing, GOPAM ENTERPRISES INC , Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Writer(s): J J JOHNSON