Oh, when I die, don't you dress me in no flat top fancy shoes
Don't let those motherfuckers play those goddamn Saint James blues
When I'm departed there won't be doubt
You can burn my body down to the ground
When I'm departed I'm gone

Oh, when I die, don't spend my money on no fine thread fancy clothes
I ain't got much, so what's the use in spending it all?
When I'm departed, yes, when I'm gone
There won't be nothin' left to sing my songs
When I'm departed I'm gone

They say that heaven's up above, but I don't know
I've drowned my suffered soul in alcohol
They say that hell is down below, but so am I
Waiting for that crimson blood to ooze out of my eyes
When I die!

They say that heaven's up above, but I don't know
I've drowned my suffered soul in alcohol
They say that hell is down below, but so am I
Waiting for that crimson blood to ooze out of my eyes
When I die!

Oh, when I die don't waste your fleeting time weeping over me
Crying all that love that clearly wasn't meant to be
When I'm departed, yes, when I'm gone
My heart gone cold, my race been run
When I'm departed, dearly departed
So brokenhearted
When I'm departed I'm gone