E E7 I got a secret, and I ain't gonna tell A E I'm going to Heaven in a split pea shell
A E A Oh Lordy me, didn't we shake sugaree E B A E Everything I have is down in pawn.
I pawned my watch, and I pawned my chain I even tried to sell myself, but I got down so ashamed I've got a song to sing, and it's not very long I'm gonna sing it right, if it takes me all night long. I got a secret, and I ain't gonna tell I'm going to Heaven in a split pea shell.
Different version (Cotten’s own?) with additional verses not sung by Dylan
I have a little song, won’t take long
Sing it right, once or twice
Oh lord oh me, didn’t I shake sugaree
Everythiny I got is done in pawn (2x)
I pawned my watch, pawned my chain
Pawned everything that was in my name
I pawned my buggy, house and cot
Pawned everything that was on my lot
I pawned my chair, I pawned my bed
Don’t have nowhere to lay my head
I have a little secret I ain’t gonna tell
I’m goin’ to heaven in a ground pea shell
I pawned my house, I’ve pawned my home
Pawned everything that I own
I pawned my tobacco, I pawned my pipe
Pawned everything that was in my sight
I know something, I ain’t gonna tell
I’m goin’ to heaven and I ain’t goin’ to …
I pawned my hat, I pawned my shoes
Pawned everything that I could use
I chew my tobacco, spit my juice
I would raise cain but it ain’t no use