I been working so hard my backs near broke My brows are wet and my throat's a choke You sent me here for ten long years I miss my whiskey I miss my beer Ain't seen a gal since I don't know when And the way you treat me won't see one again Well, you can beat me You can try to break me Still I'll say to you You'll never break my spirit When my body's black and blue Well in my arm there's a dreadful pain It's hard digging ditches with a ball and chain You broke my back cause I spat on a guard That don't make me no better, that just makes me hard Your water it stinks 'cause it comes from a bog And the food you serve me ain't fit for a dog You can beat me You can try to break me And still I'll say to you You'll never break my spirit When my body's black and blue