Cold iron shackles, ball and chain Listen to the whistle of the evening train You know you bound to wind up dead If you don’t head back to Tennessee, Jed
Rich man step on my poor head When you get up, you better butter my bread Well, you know it’s like I said You better head back to Tennessee, Jed
Tennessee, Tennessee There ain’t no place I’d rather be Baby, won’t you carry me? Back to Tennessee
Drink all day and rock all night Law come to get you if you don’t walk right Got a letter this morning and it, all it read: “You better head back to Tennessee, Jed”
I dropped four flights and cracked my spine Honey, come quick with the iodine Catch a few winks down under the bed Then head back to Tennessee, Jed
Tennessee, Tennessee There ain’t no place I’d rather be Baby, won’t you carry me? Back to Tennessee
I run into Charlie Phogg He blacked my eye and he kicked my dog My dog, he turned to me and he said: “Let’s head back to Tennessee, Jed”
I woke up a-feeling mean Went down to play the slot machine The wheels turned ’round and the letters read: “Better head back to Tennessee, Jed”
Tennessee, Tennessee There ain’t no place I’d rather be Baby, won’t you carry me? Back to Tennessee
Tennessee, Tennessee There ain’t no place I’d rather be Baby, won’t you carry me? Back to Tennessee