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