[Chorus]
Ha ha, this-a way
Ha ha, that-a way
Ha ha, this-a way
Then, oh then

[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
Ha ha, this-a way
Ha ha, that-a way
Ha ha, this-a way
Then, oh then

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
Ha ha, this-a way
Ha ha, that-a way
Ha ha, this-a way
Then, oh then
[Verse 3]
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

[Chorus]
Ha ha, this-a way
Ha ha, that-a way
Ha ha, this-a way
Then, oh then

[Verse 4]
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

[Chorus]
Ha ha, this-a way
Ha ha, that-a way
Ha ha, this-a way
Then, oh then

[Verse 5]
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
[Chorus]
Ha ha, this-a way
Ha ha, that-a way
Ha ha, this-a way
Then, oh then