On a Monday, I was arrested
On a Tuesday, they locked me in the jail
On a Wednesday, my trial was attested
On a Thursday, they said guilty and the Judge's gavel fell
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains,
They're about to drag me down
On a Monday, I got my striped britches
On a Tuesday, I got my ball and chain
On a Wednesday, I'm workin' diggin' ditches
On a Thursday, Lord I begged 'em not to knock me down again
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains,
They're about to drag me down

On a Monday, my momma come to see me
On a Tuesday, they caught me with a file
On a Wednesday, I'm down in solitary
On a Thursday, I start on bread and water for a while

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains,
They're about to drag me down

Copyright: Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Writer(s): CHARLIE WILLIAMS, JOHNNY CASH