O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal oh-ah

O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal well

Go 'head marry don't you wait on me oh-ah

Go 'head marry don't you wait on me well now

Might not want you when I go free oh-ah

Might not want you when I go free well now

O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal oh-ah

O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal well now

Raise them up higher, let them drop on down oh-ah

Raise them up higher, let them drop on down well now

Don't know the difference when the sun go down oh-ah

Don't know the difference when the sun go down well now

Berta in Meridian and she living at ease oh-ah

Berta in Meridian and she living at ease well now

I'm on old Parchman, got to work or leave oh-ah

I'm on old Parchman, got to work or leave well now

O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal oh-ah

O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal well now

When you marry, don't marry no farming man oh-ah

When you marry, don't marry no farming man well now

Everyday Monday, hoe handle in your hand oh-ah

Everyday Monday, hoe handle in your hand well now

When you marry, marry a railroad man oh-ah

When you marry, marry a railroad man well now

Everyday Sunday, dollar in your hand oh-ah

Everyday Sunday, dollar in your hand well now

O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal oh-ah

O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal well