[Verse 1]
Cold iron shackles, ball and chain
Listen to the whistle of the evening train
You know you bound to wind up dead
If you don't head back to Tennessee, Jed

[Verse 2]
Rich man step on my poor head
When you get up, you better butter my bread
Well, you know it's like I said
You better head back to Tennessee, Jed

[Chorus]
Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby, won't you carry me?
Back to Tennessee

[Instrumental Bridge]

[Verse 3]
Drink all day and rock all night
Law come to get you if you don't walk right
Got a letter this morning and it, all it read:
"You better head back to Tennessee, Jed"
[Verse 4]
I dropped four flights and cracked my spine
Honey, come quick with the iodine
Catch a few winks down under the bed
Then head back to Tennessee, Jed

[Chorus]
Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby, won't you carry me?
Back to Tennessee

[Instrumental Bridge]

[Verse 5]
I run into Charlie Phogg
He blacked my eye and he kicked my dog
My dog, he turned to me and he said:
"Let's head back to Tennessee, Jed"

[Verse 6]
I woke up a-feeling mean
Went down to play the slot machine
The wheels turned 'round and the letters read:
"Better head back to Tennessee, Jed"
[Chorus]
Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby, won't you carry me?
Back to Tennessee

[Instrumental Bridge]

[Guitar Solo]

[Chorus]
Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby, won't you carry me?
Back to Tennessee