Favorite Punk Songs #4 - "Ball and Chain"

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For #4 in my Favorite Punk Songs series, we remain in California, specifically, Fullerton, birthplace of Social Distortion. Social Distortion was formed in 1978 by vocalist/guitarist Mike Ness, who has been the band's only constant. They are a punk/cowpunk band with a sound that has as much, if not more, to do with Johnny Cash as it does the likes of Black Flag. Arguably their best record, 1990's self-titled effort, spawned three singles, including "Ball and Chain." "Ball and Chain" was a success, peaking at #10 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. (Fun Fact from Wikipedia: "Ball and Chain" was used in the television shows My Name is Earl and Scrubs, as well as the movie Jarhead.) There's a dark "Just out of prison and down on my luck" vibe on "Ball and Chain," something at which Mike Ness is a master. To the uninitiated, it might not sound like traditional punk, but it IS punk. Very good punk.