I would sooner be a beggar than a king
And I'll tell you the reason why
A king cannot swagger or walk like a beggar
Or be half as happy as I
Let your back and sides go bare me boys
Feet and your hands go cold
But give to your belly, boys
Beer enough
Whether it be new or old
Oh, I've a sixpence in my pocket lads
And I worked very hard for that
Oh there ain't no Turk that's gonna make me work
When the beggin' is as good as that
Let your back and sides go bare me boys
Feet and your hands go cold
But give to your belly, boys
Beer enough
Whether it be new or old
Sometimes we call at a nobleman's hall
To beg for bread and beer
Sometimes we are lame
Sometimes we are blind
Sometimes too deaf to hear
Let your back and sides go bare me boys
Feet and your hands go cold
But give to your belly, boys
Beer enough
Whether it be new or old
Sometimes we lie like hogs in a sty
Frost and snow on the ground
Sometimes eat a crust that's rolled in the dust
And by thankful for what we've found
Let your back and sides go bare me boys
Feet and your hands go cold
But give to your belly, boys
Beer enough
Whether it be new or old
Let your back and sides go bare me boys
Feet and your hands go cold
But give to your belly, boys
Beer enough
Whether it be new or old
Let your back and sides go bare me boys
Feet and your hands go cold
But give to your belly, boys
Beer enough
Whether it be new or old