Hey, hey, this death bell's in my ear
Hey, hey, this death bell's in my ear
It tain't gon' be long for they gonna ring me away from here
I laid out last night, all night and the night before
I laid out last night, all night and the night before
Goin' back home to mama, won't have to lay out no more
I'm a stranger here, standing out in the street
I'm a stranger here, there's standing out in the street
I'm broke and hungry, not a bite to eat
Gonna stand right here, catch the first old gal I see
Gonna stand right here, catch the first old gal I see
I'm gonna beg her to take me, see what she make of me
I'm gonna ask my rider, would she set my trunk outdoors
I'm gonna ask my rider, would she set my trunk outdoors
I don't mean quittin' you, but I got another place to go
The woman I had, these men must-a had her first
The woman I had, these men must-a had her first
She led me on the summer, but she put me out this fall
I begin to study and the wind begin to blow
I begin to study and the cold wind begin to blow
I couldn't figure no place for a man like me to go
My mama's dead, my papa's 'cross the sea
My mama's dead, my papa's 'cross the sea
That leaves no one to love and care for me
