On this old rock pile

With a ball and chain

They call me by a number not a name lord lord

Gotta do my time

Gotta do my time

With an aching heart and a worried mind

When that old judge

Looked down and smiled

Said I'll put you in that good road for a while lord lord

Gotta do my time

Gotta do my time

With an aching heart and a worried mind

You can hear my hammer

You can hear my song

I'm gonna swing it like john henry all day long lord lord

Gotta do my time

Gotta do my time

With an aching heart and a worried mind

It won't be long

Just a few more days

I'll settle down and quit my rowdy ways lord lord

With that gal of mine

With that gal of mine

She'll be waitin' for me

When I've done my time