I was just a kid roamin' around travelin' through a little ol' town 

A man walked up and said come with me you're broke and son that's vagrancy 

I carefree lad that love to roam but Lord I wish I'd stayed at home 

The way it looks I'll prob'ly hang cause there ain't no hope on a chain gang 

I dig that ditch I chop that corn I curse the day that I was born 

I believe it's better for a man to hang than to work like a dog on a chain gang 

[ ac.guitar ] 

The guard stands there with a great big gun I bet he'd love to see me run 

And I guess I prob'ly will some day I'd rather be dead than to live this way 

He's well fed and he's six foot tall and he's a meanest of them all 

He cracks that whip and he swings that cane the sun must've touched his brain 

I dig that ditch... 

[ dobro ] 

I gat a gal back home that's sweet and kind and she's been waitin' a long long time 

I just told her to forget my name I won't ever live down to shame 

Lord deliver me from this hole before I lose my mind and soul 

The place gets weak and the back gets broke ain't no cause to laugh and joke 

I dig that ditch... 

Work like a dog on a chain gang work like a dog on a chain gang