Got there on Monday, behind this wall and all them doors

They got me doing work, woman and I’ve never worked before

About to blow my fuse, penitentiary blues

They give me clothes on Tuesday like I Ain't never seen before

The kind of rags my mama used to scrub our kitchen floor

Funny squared toed shoes, penitentiary blues

All that marijuana, selling cocaine

Now they’re taking blood test from my heroin veins

Oh baby, things I used to do now

I was born to lose, penitentiary blues

I miss my Main St. women; I miss my Howell St. wine

I miss the cats down on the corner; we used to have a swinging time, chile

Chalking up our cues, penitentiary blues

All that marijuana, selling cocaine

Now they’re taking blood test from my heroin veins

Oh baby, things I used to do now

I was born to lose, penitentiary blues