Elizabeth Cotten Willie lyrics

Johnson said to Willie
Oh, one Friday night
Sure you can come to my father's house
Sure you take your life
Ain't it hard, Lord, ain't it hard

Willie went to his father's house
On one Saturday eve
Johnson shot that poor boy
Fell upon his knees
Ain't it hard, Lord, ain't it hard

O Lord, oh, me, oh, Lord, oh, my
I shot little Willie, Lord, he's bound to die
Ain't it hard

Oh, Lord, oh, me
Trouble I can see
I shot little Willie, Lord
Police after me
Ain't it hard

Oh, Lord, Officer O'Daniel
How can it be?

All around my bedside
Poor Willie creeps
Ain't it hard

Oh, Lord, oh, me
Oh, Lord, oh, my
I shot little Willie, Lord
He's bound to die
Ain't it hard

Went to the country
To get me a drink of gin
When I got back, Lord
Police took me in
Ain't it hard

Rubber tire buggy
Rubber tire hack
Took him to the cemetery
Won't bring him back
Ain't it hard