[Verse 1]
A poor old man came riding by
And we say so, and we know so
O, a poor old man came riding by
O, poor old man

[Verse 2]
Says I, "Old man, your horse will die."
And we say so, and we know so
And if he dies, we'll tan his hide
O, poor old man

[Verse 3]
And if he don't, I'll ride him again
And we say so, and we know so
And I'll ride him, 'til the Lord knows when
O, poor old man

[Verse 4]
He's dead as a nail in the lamp room door
And we say so, and we know so
And he won't come worrying us no more
O, poor old man

[Verse 5]
We'll use the hair of his tail to sew our sails
And we say so, and we know so
And the iron of his shoes to make deck nails
O, poor old man
[Verse 6]
We'll rop him down with a long, long rope
And we say so, and we hope so
Where the sharks will have his body and the devil takes his soul!
O, poor old man