i got one piece of advice for you
then i'll say no more
if you got to get to memphis
don't go through arkansas
50 years of travelin' done me less harm
than 60 days of pickin' cotton
on a mississippi county farm

i was drinkin' whisky
put the last drop down
sheriff was at my shoulder
when i looked around
50 years of whisky drinkin' done me less harm
than 60 days of pickin' cotton
on a mississippi county farm

Judge gave me a fine
he knew i couldn't pay
then he set me to working for a dollar a day
50 years of working life done me less harm
than 60 days of pickin' cotton
on a mississippi county farm

now i could pick my weight in cotton
but i only weigh 120
the quota was 200
so beatings i got plenty
50 years of takin' knocks
done me less harm
than 60 days of pickin' cotton
on a mississippi county farm

i met a young feller there
i don't recall his name
pulled a gun on a county sheriff
in a card game
said all my years of gamblin'
done me less harm
than a single day pickin' cotton
on a mississippi county farm

i left chattanooga
when i was just thirteen
and I've been to texas
and all points in between
all my years of travelin
done me less harm
than 60 days pickin' cotton
on a mississippi county farm

©2003 Mike West

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