Standard (EADGBE)
Rejoice and be glad, for the spring time has come,
We can throw down out shovels and go on the bum
Hallelujah, I'm a bum, Hallelujah, bum again,
Hallelujah, give us a handout, To revive us again
The springtime has come and I'm just out of jail,
Without any money, without any bail
Hallelujah, I'm a bum, Hallelujah, bum again,
Hallelujah, give us a handout, To revive us again
I went to a house and I wrapped on the door,
And the lady said, "Bum, bum, you've been here before."
Hallelujah, I'm a bum, Hallelujah, bum again,
Hallelujah, give us a handout, To revive us again
I like Jim Hill, He's a good friend of mine,
That is why I am hiking down Jim Hill's main line
Hallelujah, I'm a bum, Hallelujah, bum again,
Hallelujah, give us a handout, To revive us again
I went to a house, and I asked for some bread,
And the lady said "Bum, bum, the baker is dead."
Hallelujah, I'm a bum, Hallelujah, bum again,
Hallelujah, give us a handout, To revive us again
Oh why don't you work like other men do?
Now how can I work when there's no work to do?
Hallelujah, I'm a bum, Hallelujah, bum again,
Hallelujah, give us a handout, To revive us again
Why don't you save all the money you earn?
If I didn't eat, I'd have money to burn
Hallelujah, I'm a bum, Hallelujah, bum again,
Hallelujah, give us a handout, To revive us again
I don't like work, and work don't like me,
and that is the reason I am so hungry
Hallelujah, I'm a bum, Hallelujah, bum again,
Hallelujah, give us a handout, To revive us again
Some Alternate Verses:
I can't buy a job 'cause I ain't got the dough,
So I ride in a boxcar 'cause I'm a hobo
Why don't you work like other men do?
How can I get a job when you're holding down two?
I went to a bar and I asked for a drink,
They gave me a cup and said there's the sink
Why don't you work like other men do?
How the hell can I work when the sky is blue?