Don't put no headstone on my grave,

All my life I've been a slave,

Want the whole wide world to know,

That I'm the man that loved you so



Mama, mama, don't you cry,

I'm gonna meet you in the by and by, in the sweet by and by

Tell papa I'm comin' home, comin' on home,

God, it can't be very long



Don't put no headstone on my grave,

All my life I've been a slave,

Want the whole wide world to know,

That I'm the stud that loved you so



M,m,m,m,m,m mama don't you cry,

Lord, I'm gonna meet you in the by and by, in the sweet by and by

Tell papa I'm coming home,

Oh God, it can't be very long



Don't put no headstone on my grave,

Whoooh! All my life I've been a slave, motherhumpin' slave

And you know something? I want the world to know,

That I'm the stud that loved that woman so



Mama, mama don't you cry, mama, don't cry,

I'm gonna meet you in the by and by, in the sweet by and by

Tell papa, I'm coming home, Oh Lord,

You know, it can't be very long



(One more time now)

Don't put a headstone on my grave

All my liiiife I've been a slave,

Want the whooooole wide world to know,

That I'm the man,

That loved,

That loooved,



Don't put no headstone on my grave,

All my life I've been a slave, whoooh!

I want the whole wide world to know,

That I'm the stud that loved you so



Ma-ma-ma-ma mama, don't you cry, whooh! Don't cry!

I'm-a-gonna meet you in the by and by, in the sweet by and by,

Tell papa I'm coming home, coming on home...

...And you know something ladies?

Oh, God, it can't be very loooong