It's too late, too late, too late, too late, too late
It's too late, too late, too late, too late, too late
People we're on our way to the hold-over and we cannot hesitate
Mmmmm, these boards is killin' me
Mmmmm, these boards is killin' me
Say, I know I am a prisoner but I always wanted to be free
SOLO
When I was on my feet, I couldn't walk down the streets
Well, the police lookin' at me from my head to my feet
But, ohhh, now, these raids is killin' me
See, I want my body buried, Lordy, down in Tennessee
Mmmmm, these raids is killin' me
Mmmmm, these raids is killin' me
I got the raidin' squad blues, the holds-over is killin' poor me
When the raid began, the people begin to squall
When the raid began, the people begin to squall
The sergeant say, "You needn't to squallin', the captain says to bring you all."
When I had money my friends all ganged around
When I had money my friends all ganged around
Now I'm in these raids, my friends have all thrown me down