Rather be in Richmond with all the hail and rain Than to be in Georgia boys wearin' that ball and chain Won't get drunk no more Won't get drunk no more Won't get drunk no more Way down the Old Plank Road I went down to Mobile, but I got on the gravel train Very next thing they heard of me, had on that ball and chain Doney, oh dear Doney, what makes you treat me so Caused me to wear that ball and chain, now my ankle's sore Knoxville is a pretty place, Memphis is a beauty Wanta see them pretty girls, hop to Chattanoogie I'm going to build me a scaffold on some mountain high So I can see my Doney girl as she goes riding by My wife died on Friday night, Saturday she was buried Sunday was my courtin' day, Monday I got married Eighteen pounds of meat a week, whiskey here to sell How can a young man stay at home, pretty girls look so well