Jimmy Stokes came from Alabam′

With just the shirt on his back

But with a big determination

To make it big and never come back

He said goodbye to his girl Sue

And left the farm to see what he could do

Came east to the big, hard city

Saw the sights, Lord have pity

Every move he made seemed to be right

Made some good friends, he became tight

Always played it cool, he was never a bore

Kept his eyes open always knowin' the score

He waited for his break and took his prize

And as you would assume, he was on the rise

And with a little help from his friends

Jimmy became a business head

Now Jimmy Stokes, he was selling cokes

And all the pretty ladies in town

He ran his business and was discreet

Paid every cop on his beat

He rides a big, custom-tone, purple Cadillac

With his name written on the back

If you can′t get it and you don't know

All you have to do is ask Jimmy Stokes

Pretty soon, power went to his head

He started to treat his friends bad

One night while a big bash at his pad

A knock on the door, the F.B.I. said

"Come on Jimmy let's go back to Alabama

With a ball and chain, doin′ time in the hole

Tou are on the chain gang

Come on, Jimmy"