| Ha ha this-a way |
| Ha ha that-a way |
| Ha ha this-a way |
| Man oh man |
| When I was a little boy, little boy, little boy |
| When I was a little boy 12 years old |
| Papa went and left me, left me Papa went and left me so I was told |
| Ha ha this-a way |
| Ha ha that-a way |
| Ha ha this-a way |
| Man oh man |
| 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 Mama never whooped me so I was told |
| Ha ha this-a way |
| Ha ha that-a way |
| Ha ha this-a way |
| Man oh man |
| I went to school, went to school, went to school boys |
| Went to school when I was 12 years old |
| I obeyed the rules, the rules, the rules boys |
| I obeyed the rules as I was told |
| Ha ha this-a way |
| Ha ha that-a way |
| Ha ha this-a way |
| Man oh man |
| 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 |
| Ha ha this-a way |
| Ha ha that-a way |
| Ha ha this-a way |
| Man oh man |
| 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 |
| Ha ha this-a way |
| Ha ha that-a way |
| Ha ha this-a way |
| Man oh man |