Lyrics of Blackjack county chain

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

And all we had to eat was bread and water
And each day we had to build that road a mile and a quarter
And a 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 to death with a 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 around my ankle
But most of all i'm glad no man will be the slave again
To a black sneak whip and thirty-five pounds
Of blackjack county chain
Blackjack county chain
Blackjack county chain