I went across the river. I lay down to sleep.
I went across the river. I lay down to sleep.
When I woke up had shackles on my feet.

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.

Twenty-one links of chain around my leg.
Twenty-one links of chain around my leg.
And on each link's an initial of my name.

I asked that judge "What's gonna be my fine?"
I asked that judge "What's gonna be my fine?"
Twenty-one years on the Rocky Mountain line.

That train pulled out, twenty-one coaches long.
That train pulled out, twenty-one coaches long.
And the woman I love is on that train and gone.

Twenty-one years to pay my awful crime.
Twenty-one years to pay my awful crime.
Tweny-one years and I still got ninety-nine.