Too many, too many mornings, gotta wake up soon 
Too many, too many mornings, whoa Lord gotta wake up soon 
Oh and eat my breakfast by the light of the moon 

It was late, very late last summer, when I first got my time 
Whoa it was late, very very late last summer you know when I, I first got my time 
My buddy got one hundred years, thank the Lord I just got ninety-nine 

If you see, if you see my Mama, won't you tell her this for me 
Lord, if you see , if you see my dear old mother, won't you please tell her this for me 
I got a long long time and Lord knows when I'm gonna be free 

You know they come up here a skippin' and a jumpin' but you know that they won't last long 
Lord, they come up here a skippin' and a jumpin', but you know that they won't last long 
One day they're gonna wish they were a baby boy in their mothers arms 

You know they're always, always talking about dangerous blue 
Whoa, you know they're always talking about dangerous blue 
If I had my big old pistol, you know I'd be dangerous too 

Twelve jury men found me guilty, the doorman looked me up and down 
Lord, twelve jury men found me guilty, you know the doorman looked me up and down 
Just looked at me through the corner of his eye and said boy, you're penitentiary bound 

One day, one day down in New Orleans, all the girls gonna jump and shout 
Lord, one day down in New Orleans all the girls gonna jump and shout 
When them big green gates open up wide, I'll come steppin' out