I've got rid of the shackles that bound me And the guards who were always around me Like the bird in the tree I've found my liberty And I'm free from the chain gang now Long ago I was known and respected Then one day I was falsely suspected And they put me in jail Working out in the rain But I'm free from the chain gang now I know my mother's poor heart was broken 'Cause she knew that an untruth was spoken There were tears on the mail That she sent me to jail But I'm free from the chain gang now