178. Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (Harry McClintock)

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Harry McClintock, who recorded this song in 1926, claimed that he wrote it when he was a hobo in 1897 or 98, basing it on a Salvation Army song called "Revive Us Again." He sang the song in an army camp during the Spanish American War, where the soldiers added new verses. Other verses have been added by Carl Sandburg.

McClintock is probably best known for his other hobo song, "The Big Rock Candy Mountain."

This song is on the CD I made with Lew Dite - "Songs".

Lyrics and chords:
......... E
Oh, why don't I work like the other men do?
..................................................... B7
How the heck can I work if the skies are so blue?
........ E
Hallelujah, I'm a bum!
............................. B7
Hallelujah, bum again.
................... E
Hallelujah, give us a handout
......... A ........ B7 E
To revive us again.

Oh springtime has come and I'm just out of jail
Ain't got no money, it all went for bail.

I went to a house and I knocked on the door.
A lady came out, says, "You been here before."

I went to a house and I asked for some bread.
The lady came out, says, "The baker is dead."

Went into a saloon and I asked for a drink.
They gave me a glass and they showed me the sink.

In another saloon I heard someone snore
And I found the bartender asleep on the floor.

I stayed there and drank till a copper came in.
He put me to sleep with a slap on the chin.

Next morning in court I was still in a haze.
Then the judge looked straight at me and said, "Thirty days."

Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found on my new website: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com