I laid around and I played around this old town too long

Summer's almost gone yes the winter's comin' on

I laid around and I played around this old town too long

And I feel like I've gotta travel on



Well papa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home

Johnny can't come home no Johnny can't come home

Papa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home

Cause he's been on the chain gang too long

Yeah I laid around...



Well the high sheriff and police comin' after me

Comin' after me yes a ridin' after me

The high sheriff and police comin' after me

And I feel like I gotta travel on

Yeah I laid around...

[ guitar ]

I wanna see my baby wanna see him bad

Wanna see him bad yes I gotta see him bad

I wanna see my honey I wanna see him bad

He's the best man this poor girl ever had

Well I laid around...

And I feel like I gotta travel on