| Em | |
| Children do not weep for me |
| D | Em | |
| When you | hear I'm dead and | gone |
| C | G | |
| In the Savior's arms I'll | be |
| D | Em | |
| Just like I told you all | along |
| When my soul leaves this earth |
| And you go to put me in the ground |
| Dig a place out of the dirt |
| Say a prayer and lay my body down |
| Chorus: |
| C | G | |
| Make my coffin straight | and long |
| F#m | Em | |
| Wood that rots and nails that | rust |
| C | G | |
| Oh when my spirit's | gone |
| D | Em | |
| Let this jar of clay return to | dust |
| So do not seal me in a vault |
| Or buy a tomb to lay me in |
| Flesh and bone were met to rot |
| And go back to the earth again |
| Chorus x 2 |
| Let this jar of clay return to dust (repeat twice) |