I'm blue, yes blue, 'cause they sent me far away
I mean, yes mean, the judge said ninety years I'd stay
I don't mind workin' but I never get no pay
'Cause I'm on the rock pile from day to day
I have a ball and chain, away down below my knees
A guard, a pick, a rifle, to keep me compony (sic)
BLUES:
I'm goin' to say my prayers, just like Jonah in the whale
I'm goin' to say my prayers like Jonah in the whale
If he prayed out of his belly, I'm gonna pray out of this rock jail
I'm gonna ask the Lord, "What on earth have I done?"
I'm gonna ask the Lord, "What on earth have I done?"
To get all of these years, working in the red hot sun
I'm eatin' bread and water, can't live this way
I'm eatin' bread and water, I can't live this way
But it looks like I must eat it until Judgement Day
Way out on the rock pile, the men don't wear no shoes, Lord
Onnn the rock pile, men don't wear no shoes
With nothin' on their mind but those low-down rock pile blues