I was sitting beside the road in Black Jack County Not knowing that the Sheriff paid a bounty For men like me who didn't have a penny to our name So he locked my leg to 35 pounds of Blackjack County Chain And all we had to eat was bread and water Each day we had to build that road a mile and a quarter Black Snake Whip would cut our backs when some poor fool complained But we couldn't fight back wearing 35 pounds of Blackjack County Chain One night while the Sheriff he lay sleeping We gathered all around him slowly creeping Heaven help me to forget that night in the cold cold rain When we beat him to death with 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chain Now the whip marks have all healed and I am thankful There's nothing left but a scar around my ankle But most of all I'm glad no man will ever be a slave again To that Black Snake Whip and 35 pounds of Blackjack County Chain Most of all I'm glad no man will ever be a slave again To that Black Snake Whip and 35 pounds of Blackjack County Chain To that Black Snake Whip and 35 pounds of Blackjack County Chain