Cold iron shackles
And ball and chain
Listen to the whistle

Of the evenin' train

You know you

Bound to wind up dead
If you don't head back
To Tennessee Jed


Rich man step on
My poor head

When you get back
You better butter my bread


You know you
Well, it's like I said
You better head back

To Tennessee Jed

Tennessee, Tennessee

There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby, won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee


I woke up
But feelin' mean

Went down to play
The slot machine


The wheels turned around
Baby, the letters read
You better head back

To Tennessee Jed

I dropped four flights

And cracked my spine
Honey, come quick
With the iodine


Catch a few winks
Down, under the bed

And then we head back
To Tennessee Jed


Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby, won't you carry me

Back to Tennessee

I run into

Charlie Fog
Blacked my eye
And he kicked my dog


My doggie turned to me
And he said

"Let's head back
To Tennessee Jed"


Drink all day
Baby, rock all night
The law come to get you

If you don't walk right

Catch a few winks

Down, under the bed
Then we head back
To Tennessee Jed


Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be

Baby, won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee


Tennessee, Tennessee
There ain't no place I'd rather be
Baby, won't you carry me
Back to Tennessee