Lyrics:

Well, I always been in trouble, ‘cause I`m a black-skinned man.
Said I hit a white man, [and they] locked me in the can
They took me to the stockade, wouldn`t give me no trialThe judge said, 'You black boy, forty years on the hard rock pile.'

Trouble, trouble, sure won`t make me stay,
Trouble, trouble, jail break due someday.

Wearin` cold iron shackles from my head down to my knee
And that mean old keeper, he`s all time kickin` me.
I went up to the walker and the head boss too
Said, 'You big white folks, please see what you can do.'
Sheriff winked at the policeman, said, 'I won`t forget you nohow,
You better come back and see me again, boy, about 40 years from now.'
Went back to the walker, he looked at me and said,
'Don`t you worry about 40, ‘cause in five years you`ll be dead.'

Trouble, trouble, makes me weep and moan
Trouble, trouble, every since I was born.
Trouble, trouble, sure won`t make me stay,
Trouble, trouble, jail break due someday