Sleep on, sleep on, sleep on

Little girl, sleep on, just sleep on

Sleep on, sleep on,

Little girl, just sleep on, sleep on

Well I know you're dead and resting darling, but one day

I know the graveyard's gonna be my home



(every living people got to die, human beings)



Mama was rocking by the window,

Howling: my poor child is dead, yes she's dead

Yeah you know my poor child is dead and gone



(What made me feel so good, she said this:)



Sleep on, sleep on son,

Do you know your mother is coming on?

Whoa the graveyard ain't too beautiful,

But it will give you a home so long.



I wouldn't mind dying,

Po' Lightnin' would just have to lay dead so long

Wouldn't mind dying,

but I'd have to lay dead so long

That I wouldn't have a chance to come back here and tell my friends,

No nobody, what is going on.



Told my baby, don't worry if I die, darling,

I know I'm gonna leave your little bed warm

Don't worry if po' Lightnin' lay down and die,

'Cause I'm gonna leave your little bed very warm

Whoa you know, I can't worry when I'm dead and gone, but one thing,

Little girl, I know you is coming home.