the courtroom was crowded the judge waited there my mother was crying when i left my chair the sentence were sharpful they cut like a knife for ninety ninety years folks is almost for life i dreamed of the whistle i heard the bells ring my sweetheart was coming some good news to bring i knew that she loved me and that she d be true she said she would save me i m guilty as you she went for a pardon or else for parole i know she ll come back for she s part of my soul if she ever fails me i d be mighty blue i ll stay in this jailhouse i ll die in here too they said i was a criminal and to my despair they sent me to nashville and shaved off my hair so come hear my story i ll tell you my fate i m serving in nashville for another man s hate i just got a letter from nashville town and after i read it my spirit broke down it s sad that my sweetheart and the judge would be wed and here in this jailhouse i wish i was dead no matter how right folks a man he may be bad company will sent him to prison like me so take a good woman and make her your wife for ninety ninety years folks is almost for life