Lord, these women is the cause of me wearin' a block and chain Yes, these women is the cause of me wearin' a block and chain They put bad ideas in my head, I declare, and they know that crime don't pay When I get out of this chain gang, I don't want no more woman in my home Oh, when I get out of this chain gang, I don't want no more woman in my home I been thinkin' about the way I was treated, I declare, and back to the chain gang I'm goin' Oh, she knew I was in this chain gang, I didn't have one lousy dime Yes, she knew I was in this chain gang, and I didn't have one lousy dime Well, she had four hundred dollar, I declare, and she wouldn't even, not come and pay my fine Lord, you say you want some money, baby, you say you wanted you a diamond ring Yes, you say you wanted some money, you say you wanted you a diamond ring Well, but when I got caught, baby, you declared I was a no-good man