Well, the cows gone dry, the hens won't lay, no place I can borrow
I give the landlord all the news and the rent comes due tomorrow
There's lots of money in the bank they say that's where they keep it
Not only wouldn't they loan me some they wouldn't let me see it

So pick away on the old banjo, keep that guitar strumming
Put more water in the soup there's better times a coming

Well Mary Lou could pull a plow if only I would let her
She's twice as strong as any ox but looks a little better
I didn't kiss that Mary Lou but once and then I had to leave her
She made my collar get too high and start the burning fever

My rooster used to chase the hens he just kept a getting thinner
It's afraid he'd run himself to death so I brought him in for dinner
Yes (the) cotton crops are pretty poor the weeds are really growing
I need a woman pretty bad to help me with the hoeing