I NEVER PICKED COTTON
BUT MY MOTHER DID AND
MY BROTHER DID AND
MY SISTER DID AND
MY DADDY DIED YOUNG
WORKIN' IN A COAL MINE
WHEN I WAS JUST A BABY
TOO LITTLE FOR
A COTTON SACK
I PLAYED IN THE DIRT
WHILE THE OTHERS
WORKED TILL THEY
COULDN'T STRAIGHTEN
UP THEIR BACKS
AND I MADE MYSELF
A PROMISE
WHEN I WAS
BIG ENOUGH TO RUN
THAT I'D NEVER STAY
A SINGLE DAY
IN THAT OKLAHOMA SUN
AND I NEVER
PICKED COTTON
BUT MY MOTHER DID AND
MY BROTHER DID AND
MY SISTER DID AND
MY DADDY DIED YOUNG
WORKIN' IN A COAL MINE
FOLKS SAID
I GREW UP EARLY
AND THAT THE FARM
COULDN'T HOLD ME THEN
SO I STOLE TEN BUCKS
AND A PICKUP TRUCK
AND I NEVER
WENT BACK AGAIN
THEN IT WAS FAST CARS
AND WHISKEY
LONG-HAIRED GIRLS
AND FUN
I HAD EVERYTHING THAT
MONEY COULD BRING
AND I TOOK IT ALL
WITH A GUN
BUT I NEVER
PICKED COTTON
BUT MY MOTHER DID AND
MY BROTHER DID AND
MY SISTER DID AND
MY DADDY DIED YOUNG
WORKIN' IN A COAL MINE
IT WAS SATURDAY NIGHT
IN MEMPHIS WHEN
A REDNECK GRABBED
MY SHIRT AND
WHEN HE SAID GO BACK
TO YOUR COTTON SACK
I LEFT HIM DYIN'
IN THE DIRT
AND THEY'LL TAKE ME
IN THE MORNIN' TO THE
GALLOWS JUST OUTSIDE
AND IN THE TIME I'VE GOT
THERE AIN'T
A HELL OF A LOT THAT
I CAN LOOK BACK ON
WITH PRIDE
BUT I NEVER
PICKED COTTON
LIKE MY MOTHER DID AND
MY BROTHER DID AND
MY SISTER DID AND
I'LL NEVER DIE YOUNG
WORKIN' IN A COAL MINE
BUT I NEVER
PICKED COTTON
LIKE MY MOTHER DID AND
MY BROTHER DID AND
MY SISTER DID AND
I'LL NEVER DIE YOUNG
WORKIN' IN A COAL MINE