Lyrics copied from http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/bluegrass-lyrics/The_needle.html

FROM THE BOTTLE TO THE NEEDLE
Rick Sikes

Many times I've seen it happen. I never dreamed I'd live to see
The time that I would pray to die, so my soul would set me free.
You see, I have the habit. To the needle, I'm a slave,
From the bottle to the needle, from the needle to the grave.

Just a crazy youngster, I was looking for my fun.
That night I met the pusher is when the misery begun;
When he offered me the needle and the stuff that I now crave,
From the bottle to the needle, from the needle to the grave.

Time passes so slowly. As it passes, I get worse;
And as time goes by, again I'll try my best to chase the curse;
But it seems I have no power against the needle that I crave,
From the bottle to the needle, from the needle to the grave.

Many times you've seen us on the streets down in the slum,
These men who've lost the way of life and every feeling grown numb;
But in our shame, we are all the same. To the needle, we are slaves,
From the bottle to needle, from the needle to the grave.

[Recorded by Leftover Salmon. There is a sound file at The Internet Archive, but I don't recognize the format.

[According to Rick Sikes' web site, he was convicted of bank robbery in 1971 and spent 14 years in federal prison.]