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]