I was sittin' beside the road in Black Jack County. not knowing that that the Sheriff paid a bounty For men like me that didn't have a penny to their name. So he locked my leg to 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chains. And all we had to eat was bread and water And each day we built the road a mile and a quarter A Black Snake Whip would cut our back when some poor Fool complained But we couldn't fight back wearing 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chains. 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   when we beat him to death with 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chains. Now the whip marks are all healed and I'm thankful There's nothing but the scar around my ankle. But most of all I'm glad no man will be a slave again  To a Black Snake Whip and 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chain. To a Black Snake Whip and 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chain.