Chain Gang

This song is talking about the Civil Rights Movement.  It talks about how the advocates for this movement work everywhere and are rarely home to see their families because they are working so hard. This is shown when it says "All day long they work so hard" and "Working on the highways and byways" and them not seeing their families is shown when it says "I'm goin' home one of these days, but meanwhile I got to work  right here" In the end when it says "give me water, I'm thirsty" it's basically saying to give them freedom because they need it.