[Verse 1]
It makes a long time man feel bad
It makes a long time man feel bad
He can't get no letter
He can't hear from home
That makes a long time man feel bad

[Verse 2]
My baby sister keeps writin' "Come on home"
My baby sister keeps writin' "Come on home"
And my tears run down 'cause my time's so long
It makes a long time man feel bad

[Verse 3]
Well, surely my mother must be gone
Surely, surely my mother must be gone
Well surely my mother must be gone, oh Lord
That makes a long time man feel bad

[Verse 4]
There ain't no doctor, no doctor in all this land
There ain't no doctor, no doctor in all this land
Ain't no doctor can cure the fever of a convict man
That makes a long time man feel bad

[Outro]
It makes a long time man feel bad
It makes a long time man feel bad
He can't get no letter
He can't even hear from home
That makes a long time man feel bad