About the song
There Ain’t No Good Chain Gang – A Gritty Outlaw Country Classic
There Ain’t No Good Chain Gang is a memorable duet by two of country music’s most legendary figures, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash. Released in 1978 as part of Cash’s album I Would Like to See You Again, the song became a standout hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. With its raw storytelling and powerful vocal delivery, the song remains a classic in the outlaw country genre.
The lyrics tell the story of a prisoner reflecting on life’s hard lessons from behind bars. Through a mix of regret and acceptance, the song conveys a deep sense of reality, with lines like “There ain’t no good in an evil-hearted woman, and I ain’t cut out to be no Jesse James”. The words speak to the harsh truths of life, crime, and missed opportunities, themes that both Jennings and Cash often explored in their music.
Musically, the song blends traditional country with a rugged outlaw sound. The steady rhythm, rich guitar work, and deep, resonant voices of Jennings and Cash create an authentic, lived-in feel. Their contrasting vocal styles—Cash’s deep, commanding tone and Jennings’ smooth yet gritty delivery—add to the song’s emotional depth. The chemistry between the two artists makes the performance even more compelling.
There Ain’t No Good Chain Gang is more than just a prison song; it is a reflection on choices, consequences, and the hard road of life. For fans of outlaw country, it stands as a timeless reminder of the honesty and storytelling that made Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash two of the greatest artists in country music history.
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Lyrics
Aint no good chain gang
Johnny Cash & Waylon Jennings
… Bet it ain’t raining back home
Bet your sister’s still on the phone
Bet Momma’s in the kitchen, cooking fried chicken
Wishing that I hadn’t done wrong
… Yeah, Momma, don’t you worry about it none though
Everything’s gonna be all right, Momma
They’re teaching us a lot of new things in here Momma
Things like
… There ain’t no good in an evil-hearted woman
And I ain’t cut out to be no Jesse James
And you don’t go writing hot cheques down in Mississippi
And there ain’t no good chain gang
… Papa’s reading yesterday’s mail
Wishing that the hay was all baled
I bet he’s a-wishing we could go fishing
And here I am a-laying in jail
… Well, Papa, don’t you worry about it none now
Everything’s gonna be all right, Papa
They’re teaching us a lesson a day we’re learning pretty well too
We’ve already learned a whole lot of stuff already
Things like
… There ain’t no good in an evil-hearted woman
And I ain’t cut out to be no Jesse James
And you don’t go writing hot cheques down in Mississippi
And there ain’t no good chain gang
… There ain’t no good in an evil-hearted woman
And I ain’t cut out to be no Jesse James
And you don’t go writing hot cheques down in Mississippi
And there ain’t no good chain gang
… There ain’t no good in an evil-hearted woman
And I ain’t cut out to be no Jesse James
And you don’t go writing hot cheques down in Mississippi
And there ain’t no good chain gang
