[Verse 1]
On a Monday, I was arrested (Uh huh)
On a Tuesday, they locked me in the jail (Oh boy)
On a Wednesday, my trial was attested
On a Thursday, they said, "Guilty" and the judge's gavel fell

[Chorus]
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

[Verse 2]
On a Monday, got my striped britches (Uh huh)
On a Tuesday, got my ball and chain (Oh boy)
On a Wednesday, I'm workin' diggin' ditches
On a Thursday, Lord, I begged 'em not to knock me down again

[Chorus]
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

[Verse 3]
On a Monday, my momma come to see me (Uh huh)
On a Tuesday, they caught me with a file (Oh boy)
On a Wednesday, I'm down in solitary
On a Thursday, I start on bread and water for a while
[Chorus]
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