I Got Stripes On a Tuesday they locked me in this cell, poor boy On a Wednesday my trial was attested, uh-huh On a Thursday they said guilty and the judges gaveled bell I Got Stripes Stripes around my shoulder I Got Chains Chains around my feet I Got Stripes Stripes around my shoulder And them chains, them chains, they're about to drag me down On a Monday I got my striped britches, uh-huh On a Tuesday I got my ball and chain, poor boy On a Wednesday I'm a-workin', diggin' ditches, uh-huh On a Thursday, Lord, I begged them not to knock me down again I Got Stripes Stripes around my shoulder I Got Chains Chains around my feet I Got Stripes Stripes around my shoulder And them chains, them chains, they're about to drag me down On a Monday my mama come to see me, uh-huh On a Tuesday they caught me with a file, poor boy On a Wednesday I'm down in solitary, uh-huh On a Thursday, guess I'll start on bread and water for a while I Got Stripes Stripes around my shoulder I Got Chains Chains around my feet I Got Stripes Stripes around my shoulder And them chains, them chains, they're about to drag me down And them chains, them chains, they're about to drag me down