On a Monday I was arrested
(Uh huh)
On a Tuesday they locked me in the jail
(Oh boy)
On a Wednesday my trial was attested
On a Thursday they said guilty and the judge's gavel fell

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes,stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains they're about to drag me down

On a Monday my momma come to see me
On a Tuesday they caught me with a file
On a Wednesday I'm down in solitary
On a Thursday I start on bread and water for a while

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes,stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains they're about to drag me down

I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders
I got chains, chains around my feet
I got stripes,stripes around my shoulders
And them chains, them chains they're about to drag me down