KEY: D 
 
D                   A 
On a Monday I was arrested 
                               D 
On a Tuesday they locked me in jail 
                              A 
On a Wednesday my trial was attested 
                                                     D 
On a Thursday they said guilty and the judge's gavel fell 
 

                                 A 
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 
                               D 
I got chains, chains around my feet 
                                 A 
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 
                                                       D 
And them chains, them chains, they're 'bout to drag me down 
 
On a Monday got my striped breeches 

On a Tuesday got my ball and chain 

On a Wednesday I'm workin' diggin' ditches 

On a Thursday lawd I beg 'em not to knock me down again 
 
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 

I got chains, chains around my feet 

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 

And them chains, them chains, they're 'bout to drag me down 
 

E                        B7 
On a Monday Mama came to see me 
                                   E 
On a Tuesday they caught me with a file 
                               B7 
On a Wednesday I'm down in solitary 
                                                    E 
On a Thursday lawd I start on bread and water for a while 
 

                                 B7 
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 
                               E 
I got chains, chains around my feet 
                                 B7 
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 
                                                       E 
And them chains, them chains, they're 'bout to drag me down