I: 

           G            G7         G              G7 
Now you're lookin' at a man that's gettin' kind-a mad 
  G            G7            G        G7 
I had lot's of luck but it's all been bad 
   D 
No matter how I struggle and strive 
     D7                           G 
I'll never get out of this world alive. 

II: 

   G              G7        G                G7 
My fishin' pole's broke the creek is full of sand 
   G         G7         G      G7 
My woman run away with another man 
   D 
No matter how I struggle and strive 
     D7                           G 
I'll never get out of this world alive. 

Bridge: 

  C                             G 
A distant uncle passed away and left me quite a batch 
    C 
And I was livin' high until that fatal day 
  D 
A lawyer proved I wasn't born 
      D7 
I was only hatched. 

III: 

G            G7                G      G7 
Ev'rything's agin' me and it's got me down 
   G               G7            G       G7 
If I jumped in the river I would prob'ly drown 
   D 
No matter how I struggle and strive 
     D7                          G 
I'll never get out of this world alive. 

Bridge: 

      C    
These shabby shoes I'm wearin' all the time 
    G 
Are full of holes and nails 
    C 
And brother if I stepped on a worn out dime 
  D                                                   
I bet a nickel I could tell you if it was heads or tails. 

IV: 

G             G7             G     G7 
I'm not gonna worry wrinkles in my brow 
G                    G7       G          G7 
'Cause nothin's ever gonna be alright no how 
D 
No matter how I struggle and strive 
D7                               G 
I'll never get out of this world alive. 
D 
No matter how I struggle and strive 
D7                               G 
I'll never get out of this world alive.