On a Monday, I was arrested (uh huh)
On a Tuesday, they locked me in the jail (poor boy)
On a Wednesday, my trial was attested
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, got my ball and chain (poor boy)
On a Wednesday, I'm workin' diggin' ditches
On a Thursday, Lord, I'd begged 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 (uh huh)
On a Tuesday, they caught me with a file (poor boy)
On a Wednesday, I'm down in solitary
On a Thursday, Lord, I start 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