I left my babe in Mississippi, pickin' cotton down on her knee I left my babe in Mississippi, whoo, pickin' cotton down on her knee She said, "Babe, if you get Chicago, please write me a letter, if you please" I said, "Baby, that's all right, baby, that's all right for you" I said, "Baby, that's all righ-yigh-yigh', that's all right for you" "You just keep a-pickin' cotton right there, oh babe, 'til I get through" Now I'm gon' leave Mississippi, hopin' I might flag a ride I say, I'm gonna leave Mississippi, baby, hopin' I might flag a ride And if I don't get nobody, oh babe, I'm gon' pass on by Baby, when I get in Chicago, I do swear I'm gonna take a chance Spoken: Take your time now and play it right, here, 'cause it's last a while When I get in Chicago, babe, I do swear I'm gon' take a chance If I don't never get back to Mississippi, I'm sure gonna change your name