My terrible ways, they got me in jail Where some did succeed, I always did fail But I thought I was fine to wait for the day When I'd paid for my terrible ways My terrible ways, they came to and end When a mighty deluge freed the criminal men But I stayed in Mississippi and three souls I saved And so ended my terrible ways Terrible ways, terrible ways Sooner or later a criminal pays And I'll never have enough, enough To pay this off Terrible ways, terrible ways Sooner or later a criminal pays And I'll never have enough, enough To pay this off My terrible ways, the govenor forgave On account of three souls and account of the wave That took my wife and baby and swept them away All ‘cause of my terrible ways Terrible ways, terrible ways Sooner or later I know I'm going to pay And I'll never have enough, enough To pay this off