BLACKJACK COUNTY CHAINS
Red Lane (m & l)

Willie Nelson 1967

Also sung by:
Red Lane 1971
Del McCoury
Christy Moore
Johnny Bush
Marty Raybon
Ron Atwood


I was sittin' 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 names
So he locked my leg to thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chain.

And all we had to eat was bread and water
And each day we had to build that road a mile and a quarter
And a black snake whip would cut our backs when some poor fool complained
But we couldn't fight back wearin' 35 pounds of Blackjack County chain.

(bridge)

And then one night while the sheriff was a sleepin'
We all gathered round him slowly creepin'
And heaven help me to forget that night in the cold cold rain
When we beat him to death with the thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chain.

Now the whip marks have all healed and I am thankful
That there's nothing but a scar around my ankle
But most of all I'm glad no man will be a slave again
To a black snake whip and thirty-five pounds of Blackjack County chain.
Blackjack County chain
Blackjack County chain

(fade)



(Transcribed by David Story - August 2013)