Ninety-Nine Years Blues

Lord, these ninety-nine blues ain't
No fancy dream if you had two lives to live
You'd know just what I mean
When the judge read the verdict
It nearly knocked me down
Said, "Boy, you got two sixes
They're all upside down"

They carried me to the jailhouse
I fell down 'cross my bed (Lord, lord)
I couldn't sleep for crying
I wished to God I was dead
(Lord, I wish I was dead)
It ain't the days I've been here
It's the days I've got to stay
All the old friends I ever had
Done shook hands and gone away

My good gal told me the day I hit this can
(Hey, honey) you've made your bed in sorrow
Now sleep on it like a man (Hey, hey honey)
Ninety-nine and ninety-nine makes one
Hundred and ninety-eight
That's more years, pretty mama
Than you can figure up on your slate

All these old bootleggers come here
And done their time
And left me here grinding on
The same old ninety-nine (Have mercy, Lord)
I don't know what else is
In the world to lose
Cause I've lost everything
Except these ninety-nine blues