Cold iron shackles, ball and chain   You listen to the whistle of the evening 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   Well, you know 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      Drink all day, rock all night   The law come to get you if you don't walk right   Got a letter this morning, baby, all it read   Get on back to Tennessee Jed      I dropped four flights and cracked my spine   Buddy, come quick with the Iodine   Catch a few winks, baby, under the bed   Head on back to Tennessee Jed      Tennessee, Tennessee   There ain't no place I'd rather be   Baby, won't you carry me    Back to Tennessee      Well, I run into Charlie Fog   He blacked my eye and he kicked my dog   My doggie turned to me as he said   Let's head back to Tennessee Jed      And I woke up a feeling mean   Went on down to play the slot machine   The wheels turned round, and the letters read   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