G
I never picked cotton
Like my mother did and my brother did
And my sister did and my daddy died young
D7 G
Working in a coal mine
When I was just a baby
Too little for the cotton sack
I played in the dirt while the others worked
D7 G
Till they couldn't straighten their backs
And I made my self a promise
When I was old enough to run
That I'd never stay a single day
D7 G
In that Oklahoma sun
G
I never picked cotton
Like my mother did and my brother did
And my sister did and my daddy died young
D7 G
Working in a coal mine
Folks said that I grew up early
And the farm couldn't hold me then
So I stole ten bucks and a pick up truck
D7 G
And I never went back again
And it was fast cars and whiskey
Long legged girls and fun
I had everything that money could bring
D7 G
And I took it all with a gun
G
I never picked cotton
Like my mother did and my brother did
And my sister did and my daddy died young
D7 G
Working in a coal mine
It was Saturday night in Memphis
When a redneck grabbed my shirt
And he said go back to your cotton sack
D7 G
I left him lying in the dirt
And they'll take me in the morning
To the gallows just outside
And in the time I've got there ain’t a hell of a lot
D7 G
I can look back on with pride
G
I never picked cotton
Like my mother did and my brother did
And my sister did and I’ll never die young
D7 G
Working in a coal mine
