getting tired of sleeping in this lowdown lonesome cell lord i wouldn t have been here if it had not been for nell lay awake at night and just can t eat a bite used to be my rider but she just won t treat me right got a red eyed captain and a squabbling boss got a mad dog sergeant honey and he won t knock off i m getting tired of sleeping in this lowdown lonesome cell lord i wouldn t ve been here if it had not been for nell i asked the government to knock some days off my time well the way i m treated i m about to lose my mind i wrote to the governor please turn me a loose since i don t get no answer i know it ain t no use i m getting tired of sleeping in this lowdown lonesome cell lord i wouldn t have been here if it had not been for nell i hate to turn over and find my rider gone walking across my floor lordy how i moan lord i wouldn t have been here if it had not been for nell i m getting tired of sleeping in this lowdown lonesome cell