Hush, you little baby, don't you say a word
Here comes the devil, all dressed up like a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird should try to steal you off the ground
Mama's gonna grab on tight and hold you down, down, down

Mama, can you tell me, where did my money go?
What did the devil sell me? I don't even know
He's been pecking in my pockets, diving round my door
Trying to take me with him what does he want me for?

Mama told me, 'Don't let go the ground'
Somebody hold me, hold me down

I got the devil on my shoulder, hollering, beating his red wing
Saying 'Polly wanna dollar, I don't care if you can sing'
And 'Put down that guitar, now, darlin', you can't really play it
Don't matter what you got to say, you don't know how to say it'

Mama told me, 'Don't let go the ground'
Somebody hold me, hold me down

What's this coming? What's this coming, coming over me?
I can't stand myself, I can't even stand on my own feet

Mama told me, 'Don't let go the ground'
Somebody hold me, hold me down