When you go to work well you work like the devil At the end of the week you're not on the level Payday comes, you ain't got a penny 'Cause when you pay your bills you got so many I'm a-gonna starve and everybody will 'Cause you can't make a livin' in a cotton mill When you buy clothes on easy terms Collector treats you like a measly worm One dollar down and the Lord knows If you can't make a payment, they take your clothes I'm a-gonna starve and everybody will 'Cause you can't make a livin' in a cotton mill
Payday comes, you pay your rent End of the week you ain't got a cent To buy fat-backed meat, pinto beans Cook up a mess o' turnip greens I'm a-gonna starve and everybody will 'Cause you can't make a livin' in a cotton mill Ashes to ashes and dust to dust Let the rich man live and the poor man bust We'll never make it, we never will As long as we work in a rounding mill I'm a-gonna starve and everybody will 'Cause you can't make a livin' in a cotton mill