| I had an old friend name Campbell
|
| Campbell used to steal and gamble
|
| Made his living cheating all the while (yessir)
|
| Had a little game he called euchre
|
| Blackjack dice and poker
|
| Thought he was the smartest dude in town
|
| But I just found out Monday
|
| Campbell got locked up Sunday
|
| They got him in the jailhouse down in town
|
| They got Campbell in the jail
|
| No one to go his bail
|
| That judge he won’t accept no fine (they got’m)
|
| He’s in the jailhouse now
|
| He’s in the jailhouse now
|
| I told Campbell once or twice
|
| Stop playing cards and shooting dice
|
| He’s up on Broad Street now
|
| (he's hardheaded, pay nobody no mind but they got’m)
|
| I remember last election
|
| When the white folks was in action
|
| Trying to get thyself a president
|
| A colored man by the name of Bill Austin
|
| Walked from New York to Boston
|
| Just to find a colored sentiment
|
| Now my brother Bill’s a voter
|
| Bill’s a great promoter
|
| Always looking for some good advice
|
| So they told Bill to go to the polls
|
| And vote?
|
| Instead of voting once the fool voted twice (that settled it)
|
| He’s on the rock pile now
|
| He’s on the rock pile now
|
| I told Bill to stay at home
|
| And let other people’s business alone
|
| He’s down in Woodruff now
|
| (Hardheaded you know, wouldn’t pay nobody no mind
|
| But they got to put him somewhere He ain’t like me)
|
| I walked up to town on Friday
|
| I met a girl named Ida
|
| I thought she was the prettiest girl in town (mmmmm)
|
| She began to call me honey
|
| And I began to spend all my money
|
| We walked into a swell café and set down
|
| Folks, I made sure I were in it
|
| I was spending every minute
|
| Buying white whiskey home brew and wine everything by the quart
|
| But when I went to pay that man
|
| I found that lady’s hand
|
| In my pocket where my money was (that settled it)
|
| She’s in the graveyard now
|
| She’s in the graveyard now
|
| I told the judge to his face
|
| That woman’s hand was out of place
|
| She’s in the ape yard now |