I've laid around and played around this old town too long
Summer's almost gone yes winter's comin' on
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
And I feel like I've gotta travel on.

Papa writes to Johnny Johnny can't come home
Johnny can't come home no Johnny can't come home
Papa writes to Johnny Johnny can't come home
'Cause he's been on that chain gang too long.

I've laid around and played around this old town too long
Summer's almost gone yes winter's comin' on
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
And I feel like I've gotta travel on.

--- Instrumental ---

I wanna see my honey, wanna see her bad
Wanna see her bad, oh, I wanna see her bad
I wanna see my honey, wanna see her bad
She's the best girl a poor boy ever had.

--- Instrumental ---

High sheriff and police ridin' after me
Ridin' after me, they ridin' after me
High sheriff and police they' ridin' after me
And I feel like I've gotta travel on.

I've laid around and played around this old town too long
Summer's almost gone yes winter's comin' on
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
And I feel like I've gotta travel on.

And I feel like I've gotta travel on...