Black Jack County Chain

Am G Am i was sittin’ beside the road in black jack county . G E not knowing that that the sheriff paid a bounty , Am G F Am for men like me that didn’t have a penny to their name . G Am E Am so he locked my leg to 35 pounds of black jack county chains . G Am and all we had to eat was bread and water , G E and each day we built the road a mile and a quarter , Am G F Am a black snake whip , would cut our back , when some poor fool complained , G Am E Am but we couldn’t fight back wearing 35 pounds of black jack county chains . G Am one night while the sheriff was a sleeping , G E we all gathered round him slowly creeping , Am G F Am and heaven help me to forget that night in the cold cold rain , G Am E Am when we beat him to death with 35 pounds of black jack county chains . now the whip marks are all healed and i’m thankful , there’s nothing but the scar around my ankle . but most of all i’m glad no man will be a slave again , to a black snake whip , and 35 pounds of black jack county chain .