Mmm mmm Mmm mmm I promised not to holler now, now, mama, now, hey hey hey
Eee, laying in jail, now, with my back turned to the wall And I laying in jail, my back turned, mmm, to the wall And I laying in jail, now, my back turned to the wall
And she brought me coffee and she brought me tea And she brought me coffee, Lord, and she brought me tea She brought me everything, now, but that lowdown jailhouse key
Mmm mmm Mmm mmm I promised not to holler now, now, mama, now, hey hey hey
And my mama told me, my papa told me too And my mama told me, and my papa *shouldn't cry* [or *stood and cried*] You got two bad women now, now, {baby}? for your size
I looked at my mama and I hung my head and cried I looked at my mama and I hung my head and cried If my woman kills me now, Lord, I'll pray to die