Ha ha this-a way
Ha ha that-a way
Ha ha this-a way
Man oh man

When I was a little boy, little boy, little boy
When I was a little boy 12 years old
Papa went and 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
Man oh man

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
Mama never whooped me so I was told

Ha ha this-a way
Ha ha that-a way
Ha ha this-a way
Man oh man

I went to school, went to school, went to school boys
Went to school when I was 12 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
Man oh man

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
Man oh man

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
Man oh man