I was sittin' beside the road in Black Jack County
Not knowing that the Sheriff paid a bounty
For men like me that hadn't got a penny to their name
So he locked my leg to 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chains

And all we had to eat was bread and water
Each day we built the road a mile and a quarter
A Black Snake Whip would cut the back of any man who complained
But we couldn't fight back wearing 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chains

One night while the Sheriff he was sleeping
We all gathered round him slowly creeping
Heaven help me to forget that night in the cold cold rain
When we beat him to death with 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chains

Now the whip marks have all healed and I am thankful
There's nothing left but a scar around my ankle
But most of all I'm glad no man will be a slave again
To a Black Snake Whip and 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chains