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' . . .