On a monday I was ar-rested (uh huh)
On a tuesday they locked me in the jail (oh boy)
On a wednesday my trial was at-tested
On a thursday they said guilty
and the judge's gavel fell

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
And then chains, then chains
they're about to drag me down

On a monday got my striped britches (uh huh)
On a tuesday I got my ball and chain
On a wednesday I'm working digging ditches
On a Thursday, Lord,
I beg them not to knock me down again

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
And then chains, then chains
they're about to drag me down

On a monday my momma come to see me
On a tuesday they caught me with a file
On a wednesday I'm down in solitary
On a thursday I start on bread and water
for a while

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
And then chains, then chains
they're about to drag me down