On a monday I was ar-rested (uh huh)
On a tuesday they locked me in the jail (poor boy)
On a wednesday my trial was at-tested
On a thursday they said guilty
And the judge's gavel fell

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains
They're about to drag me down

On a monday got my striped britches (uh huh)
On a tuesday I got my ball and chain (poor boy)
On a wednesday I'm working digging ditches
On a Thursday, Lord
I beg them not to knock me down again

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains
They're about to drag me down

On a monday my momma come to see me
On a tuesday they caught me with a file
On a wednesday I'm down in solitary
On a thursday, Lord I starved on bread and water
For a while

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains
They're about to drag me down