A long-time favorite of mine. I believe I first heard and learned it from an LP recorded by Jackie Washington (of Cambridge, Mass ~ not the Canadian Jackie Washington) way back in about 1963-64. A Vanguard record, if I remember correctly.

"High" rhymes with "lie"; "hard" does not. That's why I have always understood, and sung, the closing line of the chorus as "You know this life I'm livin' is mighty high," even though it doesn't make a whole lot of sense in context.

Someone above remarks "I don't know where Jerry got that extra verse." I don't see any any lyrics in addition to the well-established two verses plus one chorus, which one contributor provides as having been transcribed straight from Libba's recording. Of course, there are many slight variations from one person's reading to another's.

It's such a great song that I've always wished that it HAD a couple more verses. I play the verse-and-chorus though instrumentally first time around, then sing the two verses, play without singing again, and repeat ~ just to make it last as long as I can.

I might start using Suffet's very nice new third verse. It fits pretty well, and I don't really much care about absolute "authenticity." Long live the Folk Process!