G
I've laid around and played around this old town too long 
                         C               G
Summer's almost gone yes winter's comin' on 
     G                                               Em
I've laid around and played around this old town too long 
    C                D7           G
And I feel like I've gotta travel on 

I:

G
Papa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home 
                          C            G
Johnny can't come home no Johnny can't come home 
G                                           Em
Papa writes to Johnny but Johnny can't come home 
      C                 D              G
Cause he's been on this chain gang too long 

II:

G 
Want to see my honey want to see her bad 
                       C               G
Want to see her bad oh want to see her bad 
G                                    Em
Want to see my honey want to see her bad 
          C             D             G
She's the best gal this poor boy ever had 

III:

     G
High sheriff and police ridin' after me 
                    C            G
Ridin' after me yes rotten Jerry Lee 
     G                               Em
High sheriff and police ridin' after me 
    C                D            G
And I feel like I've gotta travel on 

CHORUS:

     G
I've laid around and played around this old town too long 
                         C               G
Summer's almost gone yes winter's comin' on 
     G                                               Em
I've laid around and played around this old town too long 
    C                D7           G Em
And I feel like I've gotta travel on 
    C           D7            G 
And I guess I'd better travel on