I was born about eighteen years ago
In a little wooden shack
I was born about eighteen years ago
On the wrong side of the tracks
And I never knew my father
And I never had a home
Well, I don't know where I came from
And I don't know where I'm goin'

I WAS BORN TO BE UNLUCKY
FROM MY SHOULDERS TO MY SHOES
AND I GUESS I'M STUCK WITH MY UNLUCKY BLUES

When I was just a young boy
I was raised on beans and trout
And on my seventh birthday
Well my momma, she kicked me out
They say I'm good for nothin'
No one treats me kind
I don't care 'cause pretty soon
I'm gonna leave this world behind

I WAS BORN TO BE UNLUCKY
FROM MY SHOULDERS TO MY SHOES
AND I GUESS I'M STUCK WITH MY UNLUCKY BLUES

I jumped into the river
To try to put myself away
A man jumped in and saved me
Spoiled a perfect day
He dragged me to the river's edge
He said he knew I had a need
Then he pulled out a soggy Bible
And that man began to read
Well he told me things I did not know
I'm glad I did not die
'Cause he told me God's my father
And my real home is in the sky
And I said...

He said I done a very foolish thing
To try to drown myself and die
And I told him I was glad
He happened to be passing by
He said God would forgive me
So I repented of my sin
Then he said I must be baptized
And he threw me in again

I WAS BORN TO BE UNLUCKY
FROM MY SHOULDERS TO MY SHOES
I THOUGHT I MUST BE STUCK WITH THESE UNLUCKY BLUES

My life has changed in many ways
I'm such a different man
Well I know now who my father is
And I know just where I stand
With one foot up in heaven
And one foot on the ground
I travel through this world of ours
I try to spread God's word around

I WAS BORN TO BE UNLUCKY (I KNOW'D IT)
FROM MY SHOULDERS TO MY SHOES
BUT I CAME UNSTUCK FROM MY UNLUCKY BLUES
AND MAYBE YOU CAN TOO

And this is just the beginning