[Verse 1]
Cold iron shackles and ball and chain
I listen to the whistle of the evening train
You know you bound to wind up dead
If you don't head back to Tennessee Jed

[Verse 2]
A rich man step on my poor head
When you get back you better butter my bread
Well, you know that it's just like I said
You better hurry on back to Tennessee, Jed

[Chorus]
Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby, won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
Drink all day and I rock all night
The law come to get you if you don't walk right
Got a letter this morning, baby, you know what it read:
You better hurry on back to Tennessee Jed
[Verse 4]
I dropped four flights and cracked my spine
Honey, come quick, bring the iodine
Gonna catch a few winks, baby, up under the bed
And then head on back to Tennessee Jed

[Chorus]
Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby, won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 5]
I run into old Charlie Phogg
But he blackened my eye and he kicked my dog
My dog turned to me and he said
"Let's head on back to Tennessee Jed"

[Verse 6]
I woke this morning, I was feeling mean
I went down to play on the slot machine
The wheels, they turned around and the letters read:
You better hurry on back to Tennessee Jed
[Chorus]
Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby, won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee

[Instrumental Break]

[Chorus]
Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby, won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee

[Outro]
Baby, won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee