I left my girl sad and lonely
I left her standing in the rain
I went down to the railroad
I caught myself a midnight train

I beat my way into texas
I landed in a gambling town
I got myself into trouble
Then i shot the county sheriff down, oh lord
I shot the county sheriff down

They put the handcuffs on me
They tied me to a ball and chain
They took me to el paso
They took me on a midnite train

These prisonbars all around me
There ain't no-one to call my bail
My heart's sad and so lonely
Cause i want to get out of this jail, oh lord
I want to get out of this jail

These prisonbars all around me
There ain't no-one to call my bail
My heart's sad and so lonely
Cause i want to get out of this jail, oh lord
I want to get out of this jail

The jury read the verdict
They gave me murder in the first degree
The judge said, take the prisoner
To the penitentiary

They got the handcuffs on me
They got me tied to the ball and chain
I'd lost my heart forever
And i'll never see my girl again, oh lord
I'll never see my girl again