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 I went across the river and i laid down to sleep I went across the river and i laid down to sleep When i woke up, i had shackles on my feet Twenty-one links of chain around my leg Twenty-one links of chain around my leg Twenty-one links of chain around my leg And on each link, is initial of my name Chorus I asked that judge, what's gonna be my fine I asked the judge, tell me, what's gonna be my fine I asked the judge, tell me, what's gonna be my fine Twenty one years on the rocky mountain line Twenty-one years to pay my awful crime Twenty-one years to pay my awful crime Twenty-one years to pay my awful crime Twenty-one years and i still got ninety-nine Chorus If anybody ask you, "well who made up this song?" If anybody ask you, "well who made up this song?" If anybody ask you, "well who made up this song?" Tell 'em t'was me and i done been here and gone Chorus