I would rather be buried in some cypress grove   I would rather be buried in some cypress grove   To have some woman, Lord, that I can't control      And I'm goin' away now, I'm goin' away to stay   And I'm goin' away now, I'm goin' away to stay   That'll be all right, pretty mama, you gonna need my help someday      And the sun goin' down, and you know what your promise means   And the sun goin' down, you know what your promise means   And what's the matter, baby, I can't see      I would rather be dead and six feet in my grave   I would rather be dead and six feet in my grave   Than to be way up here, honey, treated this a-way      And the old people told me, baby, but I never did know   The old people told me, baby woman, but I never did know   "The good book declare you got to reap just what you sow"      When your knee bone's achin' and your body cold   When your knee bone's achin' and your body cold   Means you just gettin' ready, honey, for the cypress grove