judge said guilty away i went 99 years in the san quentin pen put me to work on this road gang gave me a hammer and a ball n chain singin lordy won t ya take me away can t stand these chains not one more day every night get on my knees and pray lordy please come and take me away i remember back one moonshine night killed a man in a drunken fight i ll see you swing boy the sheriff swore as he turned the key in the cell block door singin lordy won t ya take me away can t stand these chains not one more day every night get on my knees and pray lordy please come and take me away i ll never touch another drop of whiskey i ll never cheat at cards again i swear won t tell no lies i ll say my prayers on sunday if my poor soul you would spare oh come and set me free you know this ain t no life fore me oh come and set me free set me free if i could shake these ole leg irons i d be runnin from the dogs and the police sirens with a little luck i just might make it give me half a chance and you know i ll take it i ll never touch another drop of whiskey i ll never cheat at cards again i swear won t tell no lies i ll say my prayers on sunday if my poor soul you would spare on come and set me free you know this ain t no life fore me oh come and set me free set me free i was spare the rope got life hard time forgive me lord for my crime my spirit and back s been broken wish i d swung from that tall oak singin lordy won t ya take me away can t stand these chains not one more day every night get on my knees and pray lordy please come and take me away take me away won t ya take me take me away won t ya take me take me away won t ya take me take me away come and take me away singin lordy won t ya take me away can t stand these chains not one more day every night get on my knees and pray lordy please come and take me away