I'm looking funny in my eye, and l
            b'lieve I'm fixing to die
            b'lievc I'm fixing to die
I'm looking funny in my eyes, l
            b'lieve I'm fixing to die
I know l was born to die
            but l hate to leave my children crying

just as sure as we living today
            sure we's born to die
            sure we's born to die
just as sure we live
            sure we's born to die
I know l was born to die
            but I hate to leave my children crying

Your mother treated me, children, like I
            was her baby child
            was her baby child
Your mother trcated rne like I
            was her baby child
That's why it's I tried so bard
             to come home to die

So many nights at the fireside
            how, my children, mother would cry
            how, my children, mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside
            how, my children, mother would cry
Because l told the mother, l
            had to say good-bye

Look over yonder
            on the burying ground
            on the burying ground
Look over yonder
            on the burying ground
Yonder stand ten thousand
            standing to see them let me down

Mother, take my children back
            before they let me down
            before they let me down
Mother, take my children back
            'fore they let me down
And don't leave them screarning and crying
             on the graveyard ground