Ball and Chain Blues
 

I'm laying in jail : my back turned to the wall
Says a Georgia woman : was the cause of it all

They arrested me : carried me before the judge
Say the judge wouldn't like me : and he say a mumbling word

I asked the judge : what might be my fine
Get a pick and shovel : dig down in the mine

I told the judge : I ain't been here before
If you give me light sentence : I won't come here no more

Mr judge Mr judge : please don't break so hard
I always been a poor boy : never hurt no John

So the next day : they carried the poor boy away
Said the next day : I *led* a ball and chain

Take the stripes off my back : chains from around my legs
This ball and chain : about to kill me dead