Well it's been ten years and a thousand tears   And look at the mess I'm in   A broken nose and a broken heart   An empty bottle of gin   Well I sit and I pray   In my broken down Chevrolet   While I'm singin' to myself   There's got to be another way      Take away, take away   Take away this ball and chain   Well I'm lonely and I'm tired   And I can't take any more pain   Take away, take away   Never to return again   Take away, take away, take away   Take away this ball and chain      Well I've searched and I've searched   To find the perfect life   A brand new car and a brand new suit   I even got me a little wife   But wherever I have gone   I was sure to find myself there   You can run all your life   But not go anywhere      Take away, take away   Take away this ball and chain   Well I'm sick and I'm tired   And I can't take any more pain   Take away, take away   Never to return again   Take away, take away, take away   Take away this ball and chain      Well I'll pass the bar on the way   To my dingy hotel room   I spent all my money   I've been drinkin' since half past noon   I'll wake there in the mornin'   Or maybe in the county jail   Times are hard, getting harder   I'm born to lose and destined to fail      Take away, take away   Take away this ball and chain   Well I'm lonely and I'm tired   And I can't take any more pain   Take away, take away   Never to return again   Take away, take away, take away   Take away this ball and chain