I GOT STRIPES
(Johnny Cash / Charlie Williams)

Johnny Cash - 1959
Jimmy Dempsey (Instr.) - 1970
Frank Sheen - 1972



On a Monday I was arrested (Uh-huh)
On a Tuesday they locked me in the jail (Poor boy)
On a Wednesday my trial was attested
On a Thursday they said guilty and the judge's gavel fell

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains they're 'bout to drag me down

On a Monday got my striped britches (Uh-huh)
On a Tuesday got my ball and chain (Poor boy)
On a Wednesday I'm workin' diggin' ditches
On a Thursday, Lord, I begged them not to knock me down again

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains they're 'bout to drag me down

On a Monday my mama come to see me (Uh-huh)
On a Tuesday they caught me with a file (Poor boy)
On a Wednesday I'm down on solitary
On a Thursday I start on a bread and water for a while

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains they're 'bout to drag me down


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2018)