-Below is my best attempt at translation. It's quite open to modification. Text with slashes around it represents significant unsurity.


Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell ya what/ it all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell ya what/ it all about

I'm gonna talk to Joe Louis
/And it all angered/ me
Don't even try to think about it
Alabama /ree/

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell ya/ all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell ya/ all about

I'm gonna tell all the colored people
/Even the old/ nigger here
Don't ya ever go to Alabama
/And/ try to live

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Gon' tell ya/ all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell ya/ all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell ya/ all about

I'm gonna tell all the colored people
Living in Harlem /swing/
Don't ya ever go to Alabama
/Just try to sing/

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Gon' tell ya/ all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell it/ all about

I'm gonna tell all the colored people
Livin' in Harlem /swing/
Don't ya ever go to Alabama
/Just try to sing/

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell what it's/ all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell what it's/ all about