Come all you jolly jokers

If you want to have some fun

And listen while I relate the tale

Of the Great American Bum

From the east and west and north and south

Like a swarm of bees they come

They sleep in the dirt and they wear a shirt

That's dirty and full of crumb

I am a bum a jolly old bum

And I live like a royal Turk

And I have good luck

And I bum all my chuck

And to heck with the man that works

It's early in the morning

When the dew is on the ground

The bum arises from his nest

And gazes all around

Well going east they're loaded

And going west sealed tight

I reckon we'll have to ride

Aboard the fast express tonight

I am a bum a jolly old bum

And I live like a royal Turk

And I have good luck

And I bum all my chuck

And to heck with the man that works

I beat my way from Frisco

To the rockbound coast of Maine

From Canada to Mexico

And then all the way back again

Well I met a man the other day

That I never met before

And he asked me if I wanted a job

A shoveling iron ore

I asked what the wages was

And he said "Ten cents a ton"

I said "Oh fella go scratch your neck

I'd rather be on the bum "

I am a bum a jolly old bum

And I live like a royal Turk

And I have good luck

And I bum all my chuck

And to heck with the man that works

Oh lady would you be kind enough

To give me something to eat

A piece of bread and butter

And a tender slice of meat

Some apple pie and custard

Just to tickle my appetite

For really I'm so hungry

Don't know where I'll sleep tonight

I am a bum a jolly old bum

And I live like a royal Turk

And I have good luck

And I bum all my chuck

And to heck with the man that works

The Great American Bum - Cisco Houston