These are the lyrics I have transcribed from Tommy Johnson's version (the original). They are the most accurate I can get them, however there are several words which are quite difficult to distinguish, sometimes because of Johnson's blues yodel. I have italicized these and placed alternate possibilities in parentheses following the line. As I recall, Rory Block's version is fairly faithful to the original.

CANNED HEAT

Cryin' canned, canned heat mama, crying sure lord killin' me,
Cryin' canned heat mama, sure lord killin' me,
Take canned Cool Rub to take these canned heat Blues. (Alcorub)

Cryin' mom, mama mama, you know canned heat killin' me,
Cryin' mama mama mama, cryin' canned heat is killin' me.
Canned heat don't, chillun', cryin' babe I'll never die. (kill me)

I woke up, up this mornin', with canned heat on my mind,
Woke up this mornin', canned heat was on my mind.
Woke up this morn, babe canned heat's all on my mind.

Cryin' lord, lord I wonder, canned heat lord, killin' me.
Take alcorub, it tearin' 'bout my soul, (apart)
Big ol' brown skin woman don't do that easy roll.

I woke up, up this mornin', cryin' canned heat 'round my bed,
Cry and yell, somebody, take these canned heat blues, (Cryin' help)
Cry and yell, somebody, can't take these canned heat blues, (Cryin' help)

Cryin' mama mama mama, cryin' canned heat killin' me,
B'lieve to my soul, lord, it gonna kill me dead.