Cisco Houston - The Great American Bum lyrics

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 bu*ter, 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.