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- Well, I'm singin' to myself There's got to be another way [Chorus:] Take away, take away Take away this ball and chain 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 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 [Chorus] Well I'll pass the bar on the way To my dingy hotel room- I spent all my money I've been drinkin' since a-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- [Chorus]