I've laid around and played around this old town too long
Summer's almost gone, winter's comin' on
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
And I feel like I've gotta travel on
High sheriff and police are ridin' after me
Ridin' after me, oh, they're ridin' after me
High sheriff and police are ridin' after me
And I feel like I've gotta travel on
Papa writes to Johnny, Johnny can't come home
No, Johnny can't come home, Johnny can't come home
Papa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home
'Cause he's been on that chain gang too long
Gotta see my baby, gotta see her bad
Gotta see her bad, oh, I gotta see her bad
Gotta see my baby, gotta see her bad
She's the best friend this poor boy ever had
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
Summer's almost gone, winter's comin' on
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
And I feel like I've gotta travel on
Oh, I feel like I've gotta travel on
Oh, I feel like I've gotta travel on