You must lay some flowers on my grave   You must lay some flowers on my grave   My mother and father have gone   Left me in this world alone   You must lay some flowers on my grave      My father was a roll sport and a gambler too   And he loved makin' and just singin' the blues   I hope my heart will change   I don't want to die the same   You must lay some flowers on my grave      Put a wreath of flowers at my right side   Then you'll know that McTell's satisfied   Put a bouquet in my breast   You know poor boy's gone to rest   You must lay some flowers on my grave      Now when this old building is fallin' down   Just lay me six feet in the cold, cold ground   Wrap me up in the solid clay   'Cause I come here to die one day   Hot mama, lay some flowers on my grave      What a moaning glory at my hidden feet   Then you'll know that McTell's gone to sleep   On my headboard write my name   I leave 'em many girl's heart in pain   Hot mama, lay some flowers on my grave      Don't snatch the pillow from under my head   Don't grieve and worry after the days I'm dead   When I bid you this last goodbye   Don't none of you womens cry   You just lay some flowers on my grave      Now when I'm gone, come no more   And [Incomprehensible]   When you hear that coughing sound   You'll know McTell is in the ground   Hot mama, lay some flowers on my grave      Now when the poor boy's dead and gone   I'm left in this old world all alone   When you hear that church bell toll   You'll know McTell's dead and gone   Hot mama, lay some flowers on my grave