Poor Elijah, living on the bayou way.
Poor Elijah, he had to take over raising fourteen kids
When his daddy got caught stealing chickens from a neighbor one day.
Work on Elijah, work on.
Poor Elijah, born the son of a slave.
Poor Elijah, he was damn near blind when he died last week
From working in the sun for the man like a dog all day.
Work on Elijah, work on.