D                     G                    D   
I was standin' by the road in Black Jack County. 
D                    C      G       A 
Not knowing that the Sheriff paid a bounty, 
D                    C              G              A 
For men like me who didn't have a penny to their name. 
D                     G            D            A       D 
He locked my legs in 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chain. 
 
D              G                  D 
All we had to eat was bread and water, 
D                   C              G              A 
Everyday we had to build his road a mile and a quarter, 
D                         C                   G              A 
A Black Snake Whip would sting our backs if some poor fool complained,   
 D                                  G            D             A     D 
But we couldn't fight back wearing 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chain. 
 
D                           G            D 
Then one night while the Sheriff lay a sleepin', 
D                C        G          A 
We all gathered round him slowly creepin', 
D               C              G                      A             
Heaven help me to forget that night in the cold cold rain 
 D                                 G            D             A      D 
When we beat him to death wearing 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chain 
 
D                    G                 D 
The wounds have all healed and I am thankful, 
D                             C       G           A 
And there's nothing left but scars around my ankle. 
D                    C           G            A 
But best of all no man will ever be a slave again, 
D                          G            D            A     D 
To a Black Snake Whip and 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chain. 
 
D                   C             G          A            
But best of all no man will ever be a slave again,