KEY: D5 
 
D5                   A5 
On a Monday I was arrested 
                               D5 
On a Tuesday they locked me in jail 
                              A5 
On a Wednesday my trial was attested 
                                                     D5 
On a Thursday they said guilty and the judge's gavel fell 
 

                                 A5 
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 
                               D5 
I got chains, chains around my feet 
                                 A5 
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 
                                                       D5 
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 
 

E5                        B5 
On a Monday Mama came to see me 
                                   E5 
On a Tuesday they caught me with a file 
                               B5 
On a Wednesday I'm down in solitary 
                                                    E5 
On a Thursday lawd I start on bread and water for a while 
 

                                 B5 
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 
                               E5 
I got chains, chains around my feet 
                                 B5 
I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders 
                                                       E5 
And them chains, them chains, they're 'bout to drag me down