Version Blind Lemon Jefferson:
Well it's one kind of favor I'll ask of you,
Well it's one kind of favor I'll ask of you,
Lord it's one kind of favor I'll ask of you,
Please that my grave is kept clean.
It's a long old lane ain't got no end,
It's a long lane that got no end,
It's a long lane that got no end,
And it's a bad wind that never change.
Lord, it's two white horses in a line,
Well, it's two white horses in a line,
Well, it's two white horses in a line,
Want take me to my burying ground.
My heart stopped beating and my hands turned cold,
My heart stopped beating and my hands turned cold,
Well, my heart stopped beating, Lord, my hands turned cold,
It wasn't long 'fore service by the cypress grove.
Have you ever heard that coffin sound?
Have you ever heard that coffin sound?
Have you ever heard that coffin sound?
Than you know the poor boy's in the ground.
Oh, dig my grave with a silver spade,
But dig my grave with a silver spade,
Well, dig my grave with a silver spade,
You may leave me down with a golden chain.
Have you ever heard that church bells tone [toll?]?
Have you ever heard that church bells tone?
Have you ever hear them church bells tone?
Than you know that the poor boy is dead and gone.
Version Bob Dylan:
Well there's one kind of favor I'll ask of you,
Well there's one kind of favor I'll ask of you,
There's just one kind of favor I'll ask of you,
You can see that my grave is kept clean.
And there's two white horses following me,
And there's two white horses following me,
I got two white horses following me,
Waiting on my burying ground.
Did you ever hear that coffin sound?
Did you ever hear that coffin sound?
Did you ever hear that coffin sound?
Means another poor boy is underground.
Did you ever hear them church bells toll?
Did you ever hear them church bells toll?
Did you ever hear them church bells toll?
Means another poor boy is dead and gone.
And my heart stopped beating and my hands turned cold,
And my heart stopped beating and my hands turned cold,
And my heart stopped beating and my hands turned cold,
Now I believe what the Bible told.
There's just one last favor I'll ask of you,
And there's one last favor I'll ask of you,
There's just one last favor I'll of for you,
See that my grave is kept clean.