Worried Man Blues
Chorus
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long
I went across the river, and I laid down to sleep,... (x3)
When I woke up, had shackles on my feet
I asked that judge, what's gonna be my fine,... (x3)
Twenty one years, on the Rocky Mountain line
The train pulled in, sixteen coaches long,... (x3)
The girl I love, she's on that train and gone
I looked down that track as far as I could see,... (x3)
Little-bitty hand was waving back at me
Thirty-two links of chain wrapped around my leg,... (x3)
On each link, an initial of my name
Twenty one years to pay my awful crime...+2
Twenty one years, but I got ninety nine
If anyone should ask you who composed this song,... (x3)
Tell him 'twas I, and I sing it all day long
Lyrics from the Mountain Music for Everyone Collection, a database of nearly 400 traditional songs common in bluegrass and old-time circles. The collection is provided by the Abbott family, which also offers books and CDs aimed at providing a path to playing by ear, songbooks, and play-along CDs for learning these traditional songs. Visit www.PlayingByEar.com for more.

