Well, judge looked down gave me forty days Instead of the fine that I could not pay Said walk right you'll soon be home Cross the line and you're on your own Forty days of shotguns and barbed wire fences Forty nights to sit an listen, to the midnight train to Memphis Well now, whistle blows when the sun comes up Head to floor keep your big mouth shut Eat your breakfast on the ground Work like hell 'til the sun goes down Forty days of shotguns and barbed wire fences Forty nights to sit an listen, to the midnight train to Memphis Well now, 10 for the jury 10 for the judge 20 more to forget my grudge When I get to 39 That's the longest day in a prisoner's mind Forty days of shotguns and barbed wire fences Forty nights to sit an listen, to the midnight train to Memphis Midnight train to Memphis Midnight train to Memphis Oh the midnight train to Memphis