Rock Pile Blues

I'm blue, yes blue
'Cause they sent me far away
I'm mean, yes mean
The judge said 19 years I'd stay
I don't mind workin'
But I never get no pay
'Cause I'm on the rock pile from day to day
I have ball and chain
Way down below my knees
A guard, a pick, a rifle
To keep my company
I'm goin' to say my prayers
Just like Jonah in the whale
I'm gonna say my prayers
Like Jonah in the whale
If he prayed out of his belly
I'm gonna pray out of this rock jail
I'm gonna ask the Lord
What on earth have I done
I'm gonna ask the Lord
What on earth have I done
To get all of these years
Working in the red hot sun
I'm eatin' bread and water
Can't live this way
I'm eatin' bread and water
I can't live this way
But it looks like Imma see death
Until judgment day
Way out on the rock pile
The men don't wear no shoes
Down on the rock pile
Men don't wear no shoes
With nothin' on their mind
But those low-down rock pile blues