Lyric discussion by triplejumpbump 

Cover art for Lucky Ball & Chain lyrics by They Might Be Giants

i agree with the wife thing the jail is tight stretch. BUT i do think the ball and chain reffers to the wife because marriage is binding. so it is sort of sarcastic in a way to say "you lost a ball and chain" because it is attatched to you. I think it was a good way to put his ex because this whole song has a sarcastic tone.