| Ha ha, this-a way |
| Ha ha, that-a way |
| Ha ha, this-a way |
| Then, oh then |
| When I was a little boy, little boy, little boy |
| When I was a little boy, twelve years old |
| Papa went and left me, left me, left me |
| Papa went and left me, so I was told |
| Ha ha, this-a way |
| Ha ha, that-a way |
| Ha ha, this-a way |
| Then, oh then |
| Mama come and got me, she got me, got me |
| Mama come and got me to save my soul |
| Mama never whooped me, whooped me, whooped me |
| Mama never whooped me, so I was told |
| Ha ha, this-a way |
| Ha ha, that-a way |
| Ha ha, this-a way |
| Then, oh then |
| I went to school, went to school, went to school, boys |
| Went to school when I was twelve years old |
| I obeyed the rules, the rules, the rules, boys |
| I obeyed the rules as I was told |
| Ha ha, this-a way |
| Ha ha, that-a way |
| Ha ha, this-a way |
| Then, oh then |
| I went to a teacher, teacher, teacher |
| Went to a teacher to save my soul |
| Teacher was a preacher, preacher, preacher |
| Teacher was a preacher, so I was told |
| Ha ha, this-a way |
| Ha ha, that-a way |
| Ha ha, this-a way |
| Then, oh then |
| I liked my lesson, lesson, lesson |
| Liked my lesson to save my soul |
| Wasn’t that a blessing, blessing, blessing |
| Wasn’t that a blessing, so I was told |
| Ha ha, this-a way |
| Ha ha, that-a way |
| Ha ha, this-a way |
| Then, oh then |