It takes a worried man
To sing a worried song,
It takes a worried man
To sing a worried song,
It takes a worried man
To sing a worried song,
I'm worried now
But I won't be worried long!

Went across the river,
I lay down to sleep, (3x)
When I woke up
Had shackles on my feet!

Twenty one links
Of chain around my leg; (3x)
And on each link
There's an initial of my name!

The train I ride
Is twenty one coaches long; (3x)
And the gal I love
Is on that train and gone!

Asked that judge
What's gonna be fine; (3x)
Twenty one years
On that rooky mountain line!

Twenty one years
To pay my awful Crime! (3x)
Twenty one years!
And I still got ninety Nine!