Lyrics:

Breaking up big rocks on the chain gang
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Breaking rocks out here with the chain gang
'Cause I've been convicted of a crime
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
There, I reckon that that ought to get it
Been working, I've been working
But I still got so terrible long to go
I committed the crime, Lord, of needin'
Crime of being colored and poor
Left the grocery store man a-bleedin'
When he caught me robbing his store
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Reckon that that ought to get it
'Cause I'm working, I've been working
But I still got so terrible long to go
Judge, he said, "Five years in hard labor
On the chain gang, you're gonna go"
Heard the judge said, "Five years of labor"
Heard my woman scream, "Lordy, no"
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Lord, you know that that ought to get it
I've been working, I've been working
But I still got so terrible long to go
Whoa, hold it steady
While I hit it
On this chain gang
Hold it steady while I hit it
'Cause that's gonna get it