Swing dat hammer-hunh
Steady, bo';
Swing dat hammer-hunh
Steady, bo';
Ain't no rush, bebby,
Long ways to go.

Burner tore his-hunh
Black heart away;
Burner tore his-hunh
Black heart away;
Got me life, bebby,
An' a day.

Gal's on Fifth Street-hunh
Son done gone;
Gal's on Fifth Street-hunh
Son done gone;
Wife's in de ward, bebby,
Babe's not bo'n.

My ole man died-hunh
Cussin' me;
My ole man died-hunh
Cussin' me;
Ole lady rocks, bebby,
Huh misery.

Doubleshackled-hunh
Guard behin';
Doubleshackled-hunh
Guard behin';
Ball an' chain, bebby,
On my min.

White man tells me-hunh
Damn yo' soul;
White man tells me-hunh
Damn yo' soul;
Got no need, bebby, To be tole.

Chain gang nevah-hunh-
Let me go;
Chain gang nevah-hunh-
Let me go;
Po' los' boy, bebby,
Evahmo'. . .