If de white man am a sinner
He go walkin’, walkin’ free,
But de nigger lan’, fo’ sho,
In de penitentiary.
Now dat Simeon steal some cotton
(Cunjud by de evil one)
En dey sen’ him ter de prison
Fo’ de wrong dat he am done.
Fo’ three yeahs he done bin workin’
In de penitentiary,
En he got ter stay dar longer
Frum de chillun en frum me.
Dat rich farmer git de cotton—
Ebry poun’ ob it—ag’in,
But dey keep dat Simeon lock up
Lak he done an awful sin.

If de white man am a sinner
He go walkin’, walkin’ free,
But de nigger sho gwine lan’
In de penitentiary.