Thought I was goin' to the workhouse, my heart was filled with strife
Thought I was goin' to the workhouse, my heart was filled with strife
But I'm goin' to the penitentiary, judge sentenced me for life
There'll be rock walls around me, burnin' sand below
There'll be rock walls around me, burnin' land below
There forever, got no other place to go
Goodbye, here's the jailer with the key
Goodbye, here's the jailer with the key
Farewell to freedom, tain't no use to pity me
Gonna get my number, four-eleven forty-four
Gonna get my number, four-eleven forty-four
Soon be an inmate, steel upon my door
Killed my triflin' woman, folks, I done commit a crime
Killed my triflin' woman, folks, I done commit a crime
Nothin' will release me but old Father Time