Johnny Cash - Chain Gang: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Chain Gang" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

A                 D
I was just a kid roaming around
  E               A
Traveling thru a little old town
A                         D
A man walked up and said come with me
       E                A
Your broken son that's vagrancy
   A                  D
A care-free lad that loved to roam but
E                   A
Lord I wish I'd-a stayed at home
A                       D
The way it looks I'll probably hang
            E               A
Cause there ain't no hope on a chain gang

Chorus:
   D                 A
I dig that ditch I chop that corn
   E                 A
I curse the day that I was born
     A                       D
I believe it's better for a man to hang
         E                     A
Than to work like a dog on a chain gang

The guard stands there with a great big gun
I bet he'd love to see me run
And I guess, I probably will some day
I'd rather be dead than to live this way
He's well fed and he's six foot tall
And he's a meanest of them all
He cracks that whip and he swings that cane
That sun must've touched his brain

Chorus

I got a gal back home that's sweet and kind
But she's been waiting a long, long time
I just told her to forget my name
I won't ever live down the shame
Lord, deliver me from this hole
Before I lose my mind and soul
The flesh gets weak and the back gets broke
There is no because to laugh and joke

Chorus

 E                     A
Work like a dog on a chain gang
 E                     A
Work like a dog on a chain gang

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Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

D

Guitar chord D

E

Guitar chord E

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "Chain Gang" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Chain Gang" by Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash Song List