Down in Louisiana, I got too much to lose
Down in Louisiana, I got too much to lose
I spent twenty years of living
With these old Cane River blues

I work at tending farming, Jacob is my name
I work at tending farming, Jacob is my name
I spent half my life
Gettin' blisters from cuttin' sugar cane

I got me a son named Jimmie, got me a wife named Marie
I got me a son named Jimmie, got me a wife named Marie
She said, 'You're getting old workin' in the sun all day
But you done alright by me'

She said, 'Jimmie needs some schoolin' so he doesn't end up like you'
She said, 'Jimmie needs some schoolin' so he doesn't end up like you'
But buyin' his books on the money I make
Is a damn hard thing to do

Mr. Jackson wants to see me and he called me in at four
Mr. Jackson wants to see me and he called me in at four
He said, 'I got me a combine, Jacob, I don't need you anymore'

Well, I got a brother named Virgil, he sells crack cocaine
I got me a brother named Virgil, he sells crack cocaine
Well, he got rich a long time ago
When he left that sugar cane

Virgil said, 'Hey Jacob I'll make you a deal'
Virgil said, 'Hey Jacob I'll make you a deal'
I gotta get some goods to Opelousas
I need you behind the wheel

We were headed south on a two lane road called Highway 190
We were headed south on a two lane road called Highway 190
Mr. Trooper pulled us over outside of town
He said, 'Step out nice and slow'

Mr. Trooper shot poor Virgil when he tried to run
Mr. Trooper shot poor Virgil when he tried to run
But I killed Mr. Trooper with Virgil's old shotgun

Down in Louisiana I got nothing left to lose
Down in Louisiana I got nothing left to lose
Now I'm goin' to Angola with these Cane River blues
Now I'm goin' to Angola with these Cane River blues