99 Years

Notes

A song of unknown provenance performed by Pigpen at the pre-1965 show that was recorded and circulates on tape as the "Unident Thing" tape. Date and venue of the performance unknown.

Pigpen's lyrics on tape (where decipherable) are as follows;

I was born Mississippi,
Down on little cotton farm,
I was born Mississippi,
Down on little cotton farm,
Working on a little cotton farm now,
Down there in (Fulton?) town.

Well I said I woke up early in the morning,
And the blues come falling down,
Well I said I woke up early in the morning,
And the blues come falling down,
Well I was all locked up in jail now,
And I'm (but?) prison bound.

I said when I had my trial, baby,
I said now you could not be found,
When I had my trial, child,
I said now you could not be found,
When I said (?) (?) (?) now, child,
Yeh, (that reason is?) I'm prison bound.

I said Judge look at me,
He said son, you got 99 year,
Yeh, look at me now,
Son, you got 99 year,
I said gonna want to stay behind the concrete wall, man,
You know, man, even though the rest of my life.

I said now I tell all you boy,
What you mustn't do,
Don't let the woman, boy,
Lead you astray,
Or you'll wind up, child,
99 year, mmmm.., I said 99 year

You got to stay behind the concrete walls,
The rest of your life...
(The song on tape is cut at this point)