I AM A BUM
(learned from Tom Juster in the early 1960s at Teton Tea Party)
I am a bum, a jolly old bum, I live like a royal Turk,
I make my way from Frisco to the rocks and coasts of Maine,
The other day I met a man I never met before;
Early in the morning when the dew is on the ground
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
I have good luck when I bum my chuck, I'm a heck of a man at work.
Come all you gentlemen jokers if you want to have some fun,
Listen while I relate the tale of the great American bum.
From North and South and East and West like swarms of bees they come,
They sleep in the dirt and wear a shirt that's dirty and full of crumbs.
I am a bum, a jolly old bum.....
From Canada to Mexico and all the way back again.
I've met a million people as I wander round the land,
But to stay and live in just one place I never could understand.
I am a bum, a jolly old bum.....
He asked me if I wanted a job shovelin' iron ore.
I asked him what the wages was, he said ten cents a ton;
I said to him, Go scratch your neck, I'd rather be on the bum.
I am a bum, a jolly old bum.....
The bum arises from his nest and gazes all around.
The cattle cars are loaded, and goin' out west they're tight,
I guess I'll have to ride the passing freight tonight.
I am a bum, a jolly old bum.....