Blackjack County Chains

[Instrumental Intro] [Verse 1: Willie Nelson] I was sitting beside the road in Blackjack County Not knowing that the sheriff paid a bounty For men like me who didn't have a penny to their name [Refrain: Willie Nelson] So he locked my leg to thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chains [Verse 2: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, & Both] And all we had to eat was bread and water Each day we had to build that road a mile and a quarter And blacksnake whip would cut our backs when some poor fool complained [Refrain: Willie Nelson] But we couldn't fight back wearing thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chains [Instrumental Break] [Verse 3: Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson] But then one night while the sheriff was a sleeping We all gathered 'round him slowly creeping And heaven help me to forget that night in the cold cold rain [Refrain: Both] When we beat him to death with the thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chains [Verse 4: Willie Nelson & Both] Now the whip marks have all healed and I am thankful That there's nothing but a scar round my ankle Most of all I'm glad no man will be a slave again [Refrain: Both] To a blacksnake whip and thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chains To a blacksnake whip and thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chains [Instrumental Outro]