I haven't had my fun If I don't get well no more I haven't had my fun If I don't get well no more You see my health is fading me And I'm going down slow, yes I am Won't someone please write my mother And tell her the shape I'm in, yeah Please write my mother today, now And tell her the shape I'm in And tell her to pray for me Forgive me for my sins Tell her don't send me no doctor Doctor can't do me no good Mother, please don't send me no doctor I found out the doctor can't do me no good (I said) it's all my fault I didn't do things I shouldn't have On that next train south Mother, you can look for my clothes on On that next train south, now Mother, you can look for my clothes on And if you don't see my body All you can do is moan Mother, please don't worry This may all be in my prayer Mother, please don't worry no more now This may all be in my prayer, in my prayer You can just say your son is gone, now Out of this world somewhere