Intro
N.C# A# Fm
Every mornin' finds me moanin'
N.C# A# Fm
Life's a losing gamble to me
N.C# A# Fm
Cause of all the trouble I see
N.C# A# Fm
Everybody knows I'm moanin'
N.C# A# Fm
Every evenin' finds me moanin'
N.C# A# Fm
I'm alone and I'm crying the blues
N.C# A# Fm
I'm so tired of paying my dues
N.C# A# Fm
Everybody knows I'm moanin'
[Verse 1]
Fm
Breaking out here rocks on the chain gang
Fm
Breaking rocks and serving my time
Fm
Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang
Fm C7
Lord I've been convicted me of crime
Fm
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Fm
I reckon that ought to get it
A#m Fm
Been working, lord, been working here
Fm
I got a long way to go
[Verse 2]
Fm
I committed crime lord I needed
Fm
Crime of being hungry and poor
Fm
I left the grocery store man bleeding
Fm C7
Lordy caught me robbing his store
Fm
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Fm
I reckon that ought to get it
A#m Fm
Been working here, lord, been working here
Fm
I got a long way to go
[Verse 3]
Fm
I heard the judge say five years labor
Fm
On chain-gang you gonna go
Fm
I heard the judge say five years labor
C7
I heard my woman scream "lordy, no!"
Fm
Hold it steady right there while I hit it
Fm
I reckon that ought to get it
A#m Fm
Been working here, working, oh lord
A#m Fm
I got so terribly far to go
[Verse 4]
Fm
I gotta go make or break 'cause I'm grievin'
Fm
Gotta break my chains off to run
Fm
And if the boss man stops me from leavin'
C7
I tell you, lord I'm gonna get him one
Fm
Hold him steady right there while I hit him
Fm
I reckon that ought to get it
A#m Fm A#m Fm
Been working lord, been working, oh lord
Fm
I got a long way to go
[Outro]
A#m C#m C7 Fm D# C# C7 Fm
Lord, I'm moanin', I'm moanin', oh lord...