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It takes a worried man to sing a worried song.
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song.
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song,
I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long.

I went across the river and I lay down to sleep (3x)
when I woke up, had shackles on my feet.

Wrapped around my legs are twenty-nine links of chain (3x)
and on each link, an initial of my name.

I asked that judge, "Tell me, what's gonna be my fine?" (3x)
twenty-one years on the Rocky Mountain line.

The train arrive sixteen coaches long (3x)
the girl I love she's on that train and gone.

I looked down the track as far as I could see (3x)
a little bitty hand was waving back at me.

If anyone should ask you who made up this song (3x)
tell 'em it was me and I sing it all day long.