Ellis, in the orchard, picking baskets of oranges,
Where are all the hired hands? – gone to follow some prophet man,
As far as I can understand, they said they left to follow some prophet man.
Pick up, pick up the sand, Colonel Peckesen,
Pick up, pick up the sand, poor Colonel Peckesen.
Ellis up a ladder, looking down at a letter,
Says, “We are the pickers; we've gone to work in the vineyards,
The Grape Prophet called, we heard our names,
Tell Colonel Peckesen that he's not to blame.”
Pick up, pick up the sand, Colonel Peckesen,
Pick up, pick up the sand, Colonel Peckesen,
Pick up, pick up the sand, Colonel Peckesen,
Pick up, pick up the sand, Colonel Peckesen.
Ellis, in the orchard, picking baskets of oranges,
Where are all the basket lines? – they've gone to work on the grapevine,
The Colonel falls down on his face; and all his orange juice is gonna waste.
Pick up, pick up the sand, poor Colonel Peckesen,
Pick up, pick up the sand, poor Colonel Peckesen,
Pick up, pick up the sand, Colonel Peckesen,
Pick up, pick up the sand, Colonel Peckesen.