It takes a worried man to sing a worried song. 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. I went across that river, and I lay down to sleep. I went across that river, and I lay down to sleep. I went across that river, and I lay down to sleep. When I awoke, there were shackles on my feet. <Chorus> And on each shackle were twenty-nine links of chain. (3x) And on each link, were the initials of my name. <Chorus> I asked the judge "What might be my fine?" (3x) "Twenty-one years on the Rocky Mountain line!" <Chorus> The longest train I ever did see was a thousand coaches long. (3x) And on that train, was my love and now she's gone. <Chorus> If anyone should ask you who did write this song. (3x) It was me, and I sing it all day long. <Chorus>