Expert: Mel Priddle - 2/16/2007

Question
I would like the lyrics to a very, very old song titled
"99 years".  It has a question, then an answer.

Answer
Hello Margie,

Is this the one you mean. It was recorded by Jesse Fuller in 1958.


THIS HERE IS A SONG ABOUT LIFE IN PRISON
IT'S CALLED 99 YEARS AND ONE DARY DAY
THE 99 YEARS ARE THE YEARS YOU'RE IN THE PRISON
AND THE ONE DARK DAY IS THE DAY YOU DIE
AND IT'S TOO BAD FOR YOU......

I COMMITED A CRIME MANY YEARS AGO
I SHOT MY WOMAN WITH A FORTY-FOUR
SHE HAD ANOTHER MAN, WASN'T IN MY HEAD
I'VE GOT 99 YEARS AND ONE DARK DAY

I'VE BEEN IN PRISON TWENTY YEARS OR MORE
SHOT MY WOMAN WITH A FORTY-FOUR
I'LL BE HERE UNTIL MY DYIN' DAY
I'VE GOT NINETY-NINE YEARS AND ONE DARK DAY

FOOD IS BAD AND THE BEDS ARE HARD
I SPEND ALL DAY BREAKIN' ROCKS IN THE YARD
WHERE THERE AIN'T NO CHANGE, GONNA STAY THAT WAY
I'VE GOT NINETY-NINE YEARS AND ONE DARK DAY

AIN'T NO SINGER THAT CAN SING A SONG
TO CONVINCE THIS WARDEN THAT I AIN'T WRONG
HIS MIND'S MADE UP--IT'S GONNA STAY THAT WAY
I'VE GOT NINETY-NINE YEARS AND ONE DARK DAY

NEVER LEARNED TO READ, NEVER LEARNED TO WRITE
MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN ONE BIG FIGHT
I NEVER HEARD ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUS WAY
I'VE GOT NINETY-NINE YEARS AND ONE DARK DAY


Glad to be of help. Cheers..........Mel.