Christmas Morning Blues

I woke up Christmas morning, went out to get my morning's mail I woke up Christmas morning, went out to get my morning's mail A letter sent from Georgia, the postmark said Atlanta Jail In a mean old jailhouse 'cause he broke them Georgia laws In a mean old jailhouse 'cause he broke them Georgia laws New Year he won't be here, 'cause death will be his Santa Claus My man's so deep in trouble the white folks couldn't get him free My man's so deep in trouble the white folks couldn't get him free He stole a hog the charge was murder in the first degree I never had a Christmas with trouble like this before I Ain't never had a Christmas with trouble like this before Sleigh bells is my death bells, and hard luck's knocking at my door Next Christmas I won't be here to get this bad bunch of news I won't be here to get this bunch of bad news Just mark on my tombstone, "Died with the Christmas Morning Blues"