A D Well, it started 'bout a month ago when I was in the can E A For firin' off my .44 at another man D Ain't been too good at bustin' rock or workin' chain gang E A Never could see me draggin' that ol' ball and chain A D E A Ball and chain, it's bringin' me down again D Gotta keep runnin' gotta do my own thing E A I could never drag a ball and chain A D Well, you always kept sayin' how you think that I should stay E A And we could get started on our own family D Come along tomorrow I'll be on the mornin' train E A Gonna boogie back to Texas couldn't drag your ball and chain (chorus) A D I used to wake up every mornin' and I'd do the rat race E A Suit and tie, nine to five wouldn't my place D Didn't take too long for me to understand E A I could never be a blue collar workin' class man (chorus twice)