Ho ha ho ha
 I hear somethin' sayin'
 Ho ha ho ha
 Ho ha ho ha
 
 Well don't you know
 That's the sound of the men
 Workin' on the chain gang
 That's the sound of the men
 Workin' on the chain gang
 All day long they're sayin'
 Ho ha ho ha
 Ho ha ho ha
 
 Well don't you know
 That's the sound of the men
 Workin' on the chain gang
 That's the sound of the men
 Workin' on the chain gang
 
 All day long they work so hard
 Till the sun is going' down
 Workin' on the highways and byways
 And wearing, wearing a frown
 You hear them moanin' their lives away
 Then you hear somebody say
 
 That's the sound of the men
 Workin' on the chain gang
 That's the sound of the men
 Workin' on the chain gang
 
 Can't hear them sayin'
 Hmm, I'm goin' home one of these days
 I'm goin' home
 See my woman whom I love so dear
 Meanwhile I have to work right here
 
 Well don't you know
 That's the sound of the men
 Workin' on the chain gang
 That's the sound of the men
 Workin' on the chain gang
 
 All day long they're sayin'
 Hmm, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my work is so hard
 Give me water I'm thirsty
 My, my work is so hard
 My, my, my, my, my, my, my work is so hard
 Oh ooo oh ooo, hmm