I've got rid of the shackles that bound me
And the guards who were always around me
Like the bird in the tree
I've found my liberty
And I'm free from the chain gang now
Long ago I was known and respected
Then one day I was falsely suspected
And they put me in jail
Working out in the rain
But I'm free from the chain gang now
I know my mother's poor heart was broken
'Cause she knew that an untruth was spoken
There were tears on the mail
That she sent me to jail
But I'm free from the chain gang now
