I was framin' houses in Houston
One August afternoon
When the foreman's wife pulled up in her Lincoln
And she said, "I been lookin' for you"The old man went home early
Do you wanna take a ride to town?
I said, "I guess, it couldn't do no harm"
And I threw my hammer downWe were shootin' straight tequila
When the foreman came stormin' in
He said, "Honey now, didn't I warn you
What I'd do if I caught you again?She pulled out her little pistol
She fired and he hit the ground
She grabbed my arm
We jumped into that Lincoln and I put that hammer downHammer down, hammer down
Don't look back it's too late now
Ain't nothin' you can do about it anyhow
Just put that hammer, put that hammer downWell, I heard the sirens moanin'
Just east of New Orleans
She cried out to the trooper
Thank God, you rescued meWhen they dragged me into the courtroom
I knew where I was bound
That old judge threw the book at me
Then he threw his hammer downHammer down, hammer down
Don't look back it's too late now
Ain't nothin' you can do about it anyhow
Just throw that hammer, throw that hammer downOn a chain gang out of Houston
One August afternoon
I see that same old Lincoln
And at the wheel there's a brand new foolThen the warden taps my shoulder
He says, son, quit your foolin' around
In ninety-nine years
You can lay that hammer downOh, hammer down, hammer down
Don't look back it's too late now
Ain't nothin' you can do about it anyhow
Throw that hammer, throw that hammer downJust swing that hammer
Swing that hammer down
Swing it on down, boyOoh yeah
[Incomprehensible]