Yeah, my mother hadn't died Lord, my father left his child at home If my mother hadn't died Lord, my father left his child at home Well, my life won't be so miserable, baby I wouldn't feel so all alone I was born in Alabama People, I was raised up in Tennessee I was born in Alabama People, I was raised up in Tennessee Well, I lived through all this sorrow Someone's always tryin' to hurt poor me Well, I'd rather be lyin' dead Sleepin' way down in my grave Well, I'd rather be dead Sleepin' way down in my grave Than to live all this sorrow Yeah, and misery every day