[Instrumental Intro]

[Verse 1: Willie Nelson]
I was sitting beside the road in Blackjack County
Not knowing that the sheriff paid a bounty
For men like me who didn't have a penny to their name

[Refrain: Willie Nelson]
So he locked my leg to thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chains

[Verse 2: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, & Both]
And all we had to eat was bread and water
Each day we had to build that road a mile and a quarter
And blacksnake whip would cut our backs when some poor fool complained

[Refrain: Willie Nelson]
But we couldn't fight back wearing thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chains

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3: Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson]
But then one night while the sheriff was a sleeping
We all gathered 'round him slowly creeping
And heaven help me to forget that night in the cold cold rain

[Refrain: Both]
When we beat him to death with the thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chains