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 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