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

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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.