I woke up early this mornin'

I was feelin' kind of blue

My landlady said you got a letter here

And I began to sing the blues



It was from my brother

Don't you know the boy's laying down in Vietnam

Lord they say, you don't have no reason to fight baby but

Lord knows you think you're right

(but you got to be wrong, don't you hear me, you got to be wrong, now pick up -)



You wake up early in the mornin' baby

And you don't have nothin' to eat

You can't buy yourself no clothes baby

Lord knows who can you meet



My brother's in Vietnam

People don't you know just why I'm singin' these blues

You might have no respect for your country darlin'

But that's why, that's why I'm singin' these blues

(you better pick up baby and get with it, you hear me? Looka here -)







The mothers, all the wives,

All the fathers, that have sons,

In Vietnam, you hear me?

This is to you

Always







Oh I'm gonna wake up early in the mornin'

People I'm 'bout to go out of my god-darn' mind

Lord I'm gonna wake up early in the mornin'

People I'm 'bout to go out of my god-darn' mind

It's so sad, it's so sad to think about your people

Lord when the other man thinks they're wrong

(you're not right baby. Hear this just before I go -)



Lord I woke up in the mornin' (*)

You're gonna look up, you're gonna look up and find yourself gone

Lord I woke up this mornin'

You're gonna look up and find yourself gone

(how would you feel if it was your brother over there, eh? How would you feel?)

Lord then you're gonna ask the good Lord to forgive you

Please forgive me for my sins.