Verse 1:
Hey its been ten years
And a thousand tears
Look at the mess i'm in
Busted head, broken nose
Empty bottle of sin
I sit there and I pray
In my ’64 Chevrolet
I pray to myself lord
Theres got to be a better way

Chorus:
Take away, take away, take away
This ball an chain, cause I'm lonely
And I'm tired, and I can’t take anymore pain
Take away, take away, take away
Never to return again
Take away, take away, take away
Take away this ball and chain

Verse 2:
Hell, I searched and I searched
To find me the perfect life
I got some brand new boots
Brand new hat
Sleeping with my best friends wife (Sorry Jamie)
No matter where I go
Surely find myself there
Search and search your whole lifetime
Never going anywhere

Chorus:
Take away, take away, take away
This ball an chain, cause I'm lonely
And I'm tired, and I can't take anymore pain
Take away, take away, take away
Never to return again
Take away, take away, take away
Take away this ball and chain

Verse 3:
I pass the bar on the way
To my dingy hotel room
Spent all my money
Drinking since half past noon
Hell I'll wake up in the morning
Maybe in the county jail
Times are tough, getting tougher
I'm born to lose and destined to fail

Chorus:
Take away, take away, take away
This ball an chain, cause I'm lonely
And I'm tired, and I can’t take anymore pain
Take away, take away, take away
Never to return again
Take away, take away, take away
Take away this ball and chain

Chorus:
Take away, take away, take away
This ball an chain, cause I’m lonely
And I'm tired, and I can’t take anymore pain
Take away, take away, take away
Never to return again
Take away, take away, take away
(Ladies, I can hold my breathe a long, long time. You know what that means right?)
Take away this ball and chain