Judge give me life this mornin' down on
Parchman farm
Judge give me life this mornin' down on parchman farm
I wouldn't hate it so bad, but I left my wife in mourn
Oh, goodbye wife, all you have done gone
Oh, goodbye wife, all you have done gone

But I hope some day, you will hear my lonesome song
Oh listen you men, I don't mean no harm
Oh listen you men, I don't mean no harm
If you wanna do good, you better stay off old parchman farm
We got to work in the mornin', just at dawn of day
We got to work in the mornin', just at dawn of day

Just at the settin' of the sun, that's when the work is done
I'm down on parchman farm, but I sho' wanna go back home
I'm down on parchman farm, but I sho' wanna go back home
But I hope some day I will overcome