He was black and handsome and body white to break Coming from the backwoods, the grandson of a slave He was caught for something they knew he'd never done And was digging ditches out of the burning sun Looking on the chain gang No more Looking on the chain gang No more Looking on the chain gang No more Looking on the chain gang No more No more No more No more No more Then he was a giant An eye he could bend And his foe he'd fight back down to the bitter end Though he was no talker His burning eyes would say He may keep on trying Can't hold it away Looking on the chain gang No more Looking on the chain gang No more Looking on the chain gang No more Looking on the chain gang No more No more No more No more No more No more Then one night He lay in waiting Hit the guard And took the key And before the others caught him He jumped out And he was free Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm He jumped out And he was free He made all the swamplands He'd seen the poker's dune They had dogs and shotguns And they were riding through What they couldn't find yet He was too smart and strong Like in the daytime Wondering all night long He was a giant An eye he could bend And his foe he'd fight back down to the bitter end No more Looking on the chain gang No more Looking on the chain gang No more Looking on the chain gang No more Looking on the chain gang No more Looking on the chain gang No more Looking on the chain gang