G5                                                     
I've laid around and played around this old town too long 
                     C5              G5                        
Summers almost gone, winters coming on 
                                                            
I've laid around and played around this old town too long  
 G5    C5              D5          G5                             
And I feel like I've gotta travel on 
                                                           
Poppa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home           
                        G5  C5                 G5              
Johnny can't come home, no, Johnny can't come home 
                                                            
Poppa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home 
 G5         C5           D5             G5                  
Cause he's been on the chain gang too long 
                                              
High sheriff and police riding after me 
                  G5               G5                      
Riding after me, yes, coming after me 
                                                      
High sheriff and police riding after me 
G5     C5               D5         G5                 
And I feel like I've gotta travel on  
                                            
Want to see my honey, want to see her bad 
                      G5   C5             G5                   
Want to see her bad, oh, want to see her bad 
                                                        
Want to see my honey, want to see her bad 
 G5        C5             D5            G5                 
She's the best gal this poor boy ever had