My father was a judge, a solitary man
He beat me to cry with the back of his hand
I played with my sisters, he said I played too rough
"It seems to me, son, I didn't beat you enough
You're no good."
They said I'm no good
"You're no good."
He said, "Son, you're no good"

I went for my schooling and I faced the wall
"Tommy Burns," said the teacher, "can you hear me at all?"
I sweep down the hallways, and I sweep out the grounds
Then the boss, he tells me that I'm late on my rounds
I'm no good
Oh, they say I'm no good
I'm no good
They say I'm no good

I once had a songbird with a broken wing
I cried and I cried, oh, it never would sing
I once had a songbird, the apple of my eye
I put it in the killing jar just to watch him die
I once had a sweetheart
Caught her running around
I hit her with a log chain and I put her in the ground
I once had a sweetheart
Oh, a pretty little thing
I knelt in her cold grave and I took back my ring
I'm no good
They say I'm no good
I'm no good
You see, I'm no good
I'm no good
They say I'm no good
I'm no good
I'm no good