EVERY MORNING SIX O'CLOCK
I NEVER GET MY SLEEP
BRIGHT STARS SHINE 
THROUGH MY WINDOW PANE
AS I SLIP OUT OF MY SHEETS
MY KNEES ARE SORE MY BACK IS STIFF
FROM A FORTY HOUR WEEK
BUT I'M GLAD TO CRANK THAT MOTOR
IN MY TWENTY YEAR OLD JEEP
I PARK INSIDE THAT FACTORY GATE
WHERE I SPENT TEN GOOD YEARS
I WORK WITH ALL MY HIGH SCHOOL BUDS
THIS TOWN MAKES THEIR LIVING HERE
BUT THERE'S A MEMO 
TAPED UP TO THE SWITCH
THAT TURNS ON MY MACHINE
I CAN READ IT ON THE SADDENED FACE
OF MY FISHING BUDDY GENE
OH NO CAN'T THEY SEE
WE ALL NEED THAT FACTORY
WE'LL BE WORKING ON A CHAIN GANG
SWINGIN' A PICK DIGGIN' A DITCH
LORD CAN'T TAKE MUCH MORE OF THIS
I'LL BE WORKING ON A CHAIN GANG
THE BILLS THEY KEEP ON COMING
AS THE PRICE OF THINGS GO UP
THE JOBS ALL MOVED TO CHINA
YOU KNOW THEY'RE MAKING 
ALL OUR STUFF
WITH OUR HOUSES IN FORECLOSURE
AND THE MARKETS HEADING DOWN
STAND IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE
WITH MOST EVERYONE IN TOWN
OH NO THEY'RE COMING FOR ME
LOAD ME IN A TRUCK THIS MAN AIN'T FREE
GOT ME WORKING ON A CHAIN GANG
SWINGIN' A PICK DIGGIN' A DITCH
LORD CAN'T TAKE MUCH MORE OF THIS
HATE WORKING ON A CHAIN GANG
THIS IS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY
WHAT MAKES THE RED WHITE AND BLUE
I'M GONNA CLIMB OUT OF THAT DITCH
WHATEVER I HAVE TO DO
NO MORE CHAIN GANG
I'M BREAKIN' FREE
OH NO THEY'RE COMING FOR ME
LOAD ME IN A TRUCK THIS MAN AIN'T FREE
I'M WORKING ON A CHAIN GANG
SWINGIN' A PICK DIGGIN' A DITCH
LORD COULDN'T TAKE MUCH MORE OF THIS
I WAS WORKING ON A CHAIN GANG
OH NO THEY'RE COMING FOR ME
LOAD ME IN A TRUCK, THIS MAN AIN'T FREE
HATE WORKING ON A CHAIN GANG
SWINGIN' A PICK DIGGIN' A DITCH
LORD I HAD TO TAKE THAT RISK
AIN'T WORKING ON NO CHAIN GANG
OH YEAH WHEN THEY CAME FOR ME
GOT OUT OF THOSE CHAINS THIS MAN IS FREE
AIN'T WORKING ON NO CHAIN GANG