When I was a little boy, I lived by myself,
And all the bread and cheese I got I laid them on the shelf.
Tum a wing waw waddle, Tum a Jack straw straddle,
Tum a John paw faddle, Tum a long way home.
The rats and the mice they gave me such a life,
I had to go to London to get me a wife,
Tum a wing waw waddle, Tum a Jack straw straddle,
Tum a John paw faddle, Tum a long way home.
The roads were so long and the streets were so narrow
I had to bring her home on an old wheelbarrow.
Tum a wing waw waddle, Tum a Jack straw straddle,
Tum a John paw faddle, Tum a long way home.
My foot slipped and I got a fall,
Down went the wheelbarrow, wife and all.
Tum a wing waw waddle, Tum a Jack straw straddle,
Tum a John paw faddle, Tum a long way home.
I swapped my wheelbarrow and got me a horse,
And then I rode from cross to cross.
Tum a wing waw waddle, Tum a Jack straw straddle,
Tum a John paw faddle, Tum a long way home.
I swapped my horse and got me a mare,
And then I rode from fair to fair.
Tum a wing waw waddle, Tum a Jack straw straddle,
Tum a John paw faddle, Tum a long way home.
I swapped my mare and got me a cow,
And in that trade I sure learned how.
Tum a wing waw waddle, Tum a Jack straw straddle,
Tum a John paw faddle, Tum a long way home.
I swapped my cow and got me a calf,
And in that trade I learned how to laugh.
Tum a wing waw waddle, Tum a Jack straw straddle,
Tum a John paw faddle, Tum a long way home.
I swapped my calf and got me a hen,
O what a pretty thing I had then
Tum a wing waw waddle, Tum a Jack straw straddle,
Tum a John paw faddle, Tum a long way home.
I swapped my hen and got me a mole
And the daggoned thing went straight to its hole.
Tum a wing waw waddle, Tum a Jack straw straddle,
Tum a John paw faddle, Tum a long way home.
