I was born a way back in the hills in a shack the oldest child of ten

On one hot and sultry day mama got sick and passed away

Givin' birth to baby brother Ben

I stood there and I cried as I watched my mama die

I guess I was too young to understand

Papa didn't shed a tear or even really seemed to care

I thought it was because he was a man

When mama was laid to rest pa said Jeannie do your best

I'm leavin' but I won't be gone long

The town was many miles away where papa seemed to wanna stay

So soon after mama had gone

Then it was work Jeannie work Jeannie work Jeannie work

The hard times had just begun

Yes it's work Jeannie work Jeannie work Jeannie work for Jeannie there was no fun

Papa started drinkin' wine and chasin' women all the time

And livin' off the fat of the land

We children did the best we could milked the cows and chopped the wood

And ate what mama left us canned

One day the sheriff walked in to notify the next of kin papa was run over by a train

It had been almost a year since papa left us here we were sorry but really felt no pain

The sheriff said that day children can't live this way

Said he'd send someone to take us into town

That night I said goodbye my little brothers and sisters cried

But I ran away so far I'd not be found

And now it's run Jeannie run Jeannie run Jeannie run Jeannie's gonna find some fun

Yeah it's run Jeannie run Jeannie run Jeannie run run and find you some fun