Trouble Ahead Trouble Behind

Trouble Ahead, Trouble Behind
(Blair Babcock)

I was born with not a penny
No greenback dollar to my name
I was born with not a penny
Now I hang my head in shame

I shot a man on Kemble Mountain
I shot a man on Cape Spear
I shot a man in the heart of Chatham
All I got to show is ninety-nine years

(Chorus)
Ninety-nine years, years of trouble
Thirty years into this life
Ninety-nine years, years of trouble
In thirty years all day and night

Papa left me in the river
Mama waved goodbye when I was nine
Papa left me in the river
He left me there to die

Ain’t no rain to wash away these troubles
Ain’t no sun to dry these tears
Pass me down that long neck bottle
Help me wash away the years

(Chorus)

Mama said, “Be good to strangers
Always do right and be kind”
But you know it seems that notion
It never crossed my mind

It ain’t no good life, the life I’m living
Seems to me worse than my fears
It ain’t no good life, the life I’m living
Judge decreed, “Son, it’s 99 years”

(Chorus)