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