carrying everything I ever had

all rise

see the lying eyes

singing hail to the chief

the devil is descending the stairs

sneaking like a ghostly thief

going down to the crossroads

each passing hour

watching from the top of the tower

each passing hour

hearing the shouting of a boss

under the heavy weight of a hanging cross

out there in the field

under the shadow of a circling crow

the preacher always telling which way to go

"be afraid of the Mississippi air!"

no!  please, don't send me there

I won't have a nickel to spare

down on my knees

feeling the hot powder breeze

and the barking of the dogs

I'm hiding underneath the fallen logs

it ain't so bad

carrying everything I ever had

under the shadow of a circling crow

the preacher always telling which way to go

"be afraid of the Mississippi air!"

no! please, don't send me there

I won't have a nickel to spare

down on my knees

feeling the hot powder breeze

and the barking of the dogs

I'm hiding underneath the fallen logs

it ain't so bad

carrying everything I ever had.