One find day as I was walkin' down the street Spied a beggar man with rags upon his feet Took a penny from my pocket, in his tin cup I did drop it And I heard him say as I made my retreat "May the bird of paradise fly up your nose! "May an elephant caress you with his toes! "May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose! May the bird of paradise fly up your nose!" My laundry man is really on his toes Found a $100 bill among my clothes When he called me I came runnin' Gave him back his dime for phonin' And I heard him say as I turned to go "May the bird of paradise fly up your nose! "May an elephant caress you with his toes! "May your wife be plagued with runners in her 'hose! May the bird of paradise fly up your nose!" I was way behind one day to catch a train The taxi driver said, "We'll make it!" just the same A speed cop made it with us, and as he wrote out the ticket I stood by politely waiting for my change "May the bird of paradise fly up your nose! "May an elephant caress you with his toes! "May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose! May the bird of paradise fly up your nose!" "May the bird of paradise fly up your nose! "May an elephant caress you with his toes! "May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose..."