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.
Verse
I went across the river, I laid down to sleep,
I went across the river, I laid down to sleep,
When I woke up, were the shackles on my feet.
Twenty-nine links of chain around my leg,
Twenty-nine links of chain around my leg,
And on each link, the initial of my name.
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.
Verse
I asked the judge what might be my fine,
I asked the judge what might be my fine,
Twenty-one years on the Rocky Mountain Line.
The train arrived, sixteen coaches long,
The train arrived, sixteen coaches long,
The girl I love is on that train and gone.
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.
Bridge
If anyone asks you who composed this song,
If anyone asks you who composed this song,
Tell him ?twas I and I sing it all day long.
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.