I was just setting here lookin'
Lookin' way down in Shady Grove, now
I was settin' an lookin'
Lookin' way down in Shady Grove, now
Now, that's where they carried my baby
A long, long time ago, now
I heard the church bells ringin'
An the hearse was drivin' slow, now
A heard the church bells ringin'
Peoples, and the hearse was drivin' slow, now
Lord, an I hate to see me baby leave me
Oh peoples, but she just had to go, now
I looked in my mother's face, now
An Lord, an I just hung my head an cry, now
I looked in my mother's face, now
People, I just a-hung my head and cry, now
I said, 'Leaved these good lookin' women to k** me
Mama, you just leave yo' poor Sonny Boy down, now'
You know I laid down last night one
Peoples I tried to take my rest, now
You know I laid down last night
People I tried to take my rest, now
You know my mind got to ramblin'
Just like the wild geese in the west, now
Lord, I'm goin' to the gypsy, now
To have my baby's fortune told, now
I swear I'm goin' to the gypsy
Lord, to have my baby's fortune told, now
But she said, 'But Sonny Boy, you's a bad luck chile
An you catch the devil ev'rywhere you go, now.