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