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
All we had to eat
Was bread and water
Each day we had to build that road
A mile and a quarter
Black sneak whip would cut our backs
When some poor fool complained
But we couldn't fight back
Wearin' 35 pounds
Of Blackjack County chain
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 death
With 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
Round my ankle
Most of all
I'm glad no man will be a slave again
To a black sneak whip
And thirty-five pounds
Of Blackjack County chain
To a black sneak whip
And thirty-five pounds
Of Blackjack County chain