The Great American Bum

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

Chorus:
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 goin' east, they're loaded
And goin' west, sealed tight
I reckon we'll have to ride
Aboard the fast express tonight

Chorus:
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."

Chorus:
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