When I was a little girl I spent every summer with my grandmother. It was pretty dull but she did have a victrola and two records- the waltz from the Nutcracker Sweet and The Bum Song. I played these over and over again, every summer for years. The other day I looked up the song out of curiousity and it turned out there were many people looking for the full lyrics of the song, which I know by heart. I'm posting them here in case they would be of interest to anyone, and I thought they were particularly relevant to life today.
THE BUM SONG
Now listen all you jolly jokers and listen while I mum
The story I’ll relate to you of the great American bum
From the East and West the North
and South like a swarm of bees they come.
They sleep in the dirt and wear a shirt that’s dirty and full of scum
It’s early in the morning and the dew is off the ground
The bum arises from his nest and gazes all around
From the boxcar and the haystack, he gazes everywhere
He never turns back upon his track until you cry beware
Oh I beat my way from Frisco Bay to the rock bound coast of Maine
To Canada and Mexico and wandered back again
I met Ten Pounds and Harness Bows as tough as a cop could be
And I’ve been in every calaboose in the land of liberty.
I propped the sluice and worked the ?
And taken a turn at the plow
I’ve searched for gold in the rain and cold and worked on the river scow
I’ve built the dam and dug the clam and packed the elusive prune
But my troubles pale when I hit the trail packing my own balloon
Oh waiting in the railroad yard awaiting for a train
awaiting for a west bound freight but think it’s all in vain
Going east they are loaded going west sealed tight
I think I’ll have to sneak aboard a fast express tonight
Oh lady would you be kind enough to give me something to eat
Apiece of bread and butter and a ten foot slice of meat
A piece of pie or custard to tickle my appetite
Cause really I’m so hungry I don’t know where to sleep to night
Good morning mum. Good morning bum. Lady have you got a bite to eat in the house. Yes I do and a six foot Irishman coming home at five o’clock to eat it. On your way bum. Good bye mum good bye bum.
Oh waiting in the ogies . Ogie ogie ogies. Smoking Strikes and Stogies
Oh we are three bums three jolly old bums
We live like royal Turks
We have good luck bumming our chuck.
God bless the man who works.
-Louise
