Oh lord, Berta, Berta

Oh lord, gal, oh

Oh lord, Berta, Berta

Oh lord, gal, well now

Go 'head and marry, don't you wait on me, oh-ah

Go 'head and marry, don't you wait on me, well now

Might not want you when I go free, oh-ah

Might not want you when I go free, well now

Oh lord, gal, oh-ah

Oh lord, Berta, Berta, oh lord, gal, well now

Raise them up higher, let them drop on down, oh-ah

Raise them up higher, let them drop on down, well now

Don't know the difference when the sun go down, oh-ah

Don't know the difference when the sun go down, well now

Berta in Meridian and she living at ease, oh-ah

Berta in Meridian and she living at ease, well now

I'm on old Parchman, got to work or leave, oh-ah

I'm on old Parchman, got to work or leave, well now

Oh-ah Berta, Berta, oh lord, gal, oh-ah

Oh-ah Berta, Berta, oh lord, gal, well now

When you marry, don't marry a farming man, oh-ah

When you marry, don't marry a farming man, well now

Everyday Monday, hoe handle in your hand, oh-ah

Everyday Monday, hoe handle in your hand, well now

When you marry, marry a railroad man, oh-ah

When you marry, marry a railroad man, well now

Everyday Sunday, dollar in your hand, oh-ah

Everyday Sunday, dollar in your hand, well now

Oh-ah Berta, Berta, oh lord, gal, well now

Oh-ah Berta, Berta, oh lord, gal, well now

Oh-ah Berta, Berta, oh lord, gal, well now

Oh-ah Berta, Berta, oh lord, gal, well now

Oh-ah Berta, Berta, oh lord, gal, well now

Oh-ah Berta, Berta, oh lord, gal, well now

Oh-ah Berta, Berta, oh lord, gal, well now

Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm, oh lord, gal, well now

Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm, oh lord, mmm-mmm-mmm