G                                                     
I've laid around and played around this old town too long 
                     C              G                        
Summers almost gone, winters coming on 
                                                            
I've laid around and played around this old town too long  
 G7    C              D7          G                             
And I feel like I've gotta travel on 
                                                           
Poppa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home           
                        G7  C                 G              
Johnny can't come home, no, Johnny can't come home 
                                                            
Poppa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home 
 G7         C           D7             G                  
Cause he's been on the chain gang too long 
                                              
High sheriff and police riding after me 
                  G7               G                      
Riding after me, yes, coming after me 
                                                      
High sheriff and police riding after me 
G7     C               D7         G                 
And I feel like I've gotta travel on  
                                            
Want to see my honey, want to see her bad 
                      G7   C             G                   
Want to see her bad, oh, want to see her bad 
                                                        
Want to see my honey, want to see her bad 
 G7        C             D7            G                 
She's the best gal this poor boy ever had