SPOKEN: Boy, there ain't no need of tryin' to tell me nothin'! You can't tell me nothin' 'bout the circle because, not Laconia Circle, 'cause I worked for every contractor, up and down the line. And I know just exactly what they'll do, and how they is, see, that's why, that's why you hear me say it: I ain't no stranger, you can't tell me nothin'. I been down there lots of times.
I worked on the levee, long time ago
And ain't nothin' 'bout the levee camp, boys, that I don't know
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Sayin', I ain't no stranger, been down in the circle before
Now, there ain't but the one contractor in the area that I fear
He'll pull into Yard's Mill, and they don't 'low him back here
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Sayin', I ain't no stranger, I been down in the circle before
Now, there's Mr. Forrest Jones, ain't so long and tall
He killed a merchant man and he'd like to kill us all
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Sayin', I ain't no stranger, I been down in the circle before
SOLO (Spoken before solo: Play it one time, play it!)
Now, Mr. Charley Lauren, is the mercy man
The best contractor, partner, that's up and down the line
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Well, I ain't no stranger, I been down in the circle before
Now, when you leave out take Helena, out highway 44
The first camp you get to, it is called Rainy Mole
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Says, I ain't no stranger, been down in the circle before
I ain't gonna kill a saw, I ain't gonna break down
Breakin' down wheel'll get a man all down in his back
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Says, I ain't no stranger, I been down in the circle before
Now, I have a friend in Arkansas tell me what to do
I told him to come to Arkansas, I told him, "No, no, no."
REFRAIN: Partner, partner, partner, don't you think I know?
Says, I ain't no stranger, I been down Arkansas before (spoken: Good-bye)