D  A  D 
 
       D            D7 
I was riding Number Nine 
        G              D 
Headin' south from Carolin' 
                 A7           D  
I heard that lonesome whistle blow 
 
        D               D7
Got in trouble, had to roam 
         G               D
Left my gal and left my home 
                A7            D
I heard that lonesome whistle blow 
 
        G 
Just a kid actin' smart 
           D 
I went and broke my darlin's heart 
                           A7 
I guess I was too young to know 
 
             D               D7 
They took me off the Georgia Main 
          G               D
Locked me to a ball and chain 
                A7            D
I heard that lonesome whistle blow

D  A  D

     D                D7
All alone I bear the shame 
       G            D
I'm a number, not a name 
                A7             D
I heard that lonesome whistle blow 

       D             D7
All I do is set and cry 
          G                 D
When the evenin' train goes by 
                A7            D
I heard that lonesome whistle blow 
 
        G 
I'll be locked here in this cell 
       D 
Til my body's just a shell 
                              A7 
And my hair turns whiter than snow 
 
           D               D7    
I'll never see that gal of mine 
               G            D
Lord, I'm in Georgia doing time 
                A7             D
I heard that lonesome whistle blow