Well the cuckoo, she's a pretty bird And she warbles as she flies She'll never say cuckoo 'Til the fourth day of July Well for working, I'm too lazy And for begging, that's too slow Train a-robbing, too dangerous So to gamble, did I go Jack o' diamonds, jack o' diamonds Well I've known you, I've know you of old You robbed my poor pockets Of their silver and their gold Headin' out on Tenkiller Mountain I'm gonna build me, I'm gonna build me a still I'll sell you two gallons For a five dollar bill I would go to Montana If the moon showed any light But my pony can't travel This dark road tonight Well it's once I Had a sweetheart And her age was sixteen She was the flower of a Belton And the rose of Selene But her parents were against me Now she is the same If I've writ your book, love You just blot out my name And the cuckoo, she's a pretty bird She warbles as she flies She'll never say cuckoo 'Til the fourth day of July