[Chorus]
Poor Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song
Poor Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song

[Verse 1]
Poor Howard had a wife
And she nagged him all his life
So he used his butcher knife
Like I said he had a wife

[Chorus]
But poor Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song
Poor Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song

[Verse 2]
They took poor Howard off to jail
They wouldn't let me go his bail
Said if Howard is your friend
Buy a lily for his hand

[Chorus]
'Cause poor Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song
Poor Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song
[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
When we laid his bones to rest
We fulfilled his last request
He said buddies bury me
Far from her as I can be

[Chorus]
Now poor Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song
Poor Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song

[Verse 4]
His last words were friends goodbye
Don't you worry don't you cry
I don't mind this a gettin' hung
At least I stopped her naggin' tongue

[Chorus]
Now poor Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song
Poor Howard's dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song