When I was a child, my mother
Would tug me in bed
And each night, as she kissed me
These are the words that she said
Don't go to bed with strangers
Don't play with the dead
And always keep you "wits"
Sharp as an axe, inside the shed
"Jai di di dai"
When I was just a schoolboy
My father, he spoken to me
He said: "Boy -chid my son, don't trust anyone
And remember that nothing is free"
And the world is full of strangers
The world is full of dread
The world is full, of sharpened "wits"
And millions of tears you will shed
"Jai di di dai"
Well when I was a young man
My professor at University
Say advise is corrupting
Don't ever be trusting
Don't show your emotions
Human suffering is an ocean
And it's dark, at the bottom of the sea
And there is no such thing as a stranger
We are all equally backwards and wrong
Sharpen axes, not "wits"
Bones are broken by sticks
And you'll never be free 'till you're strong
"Jai di di dai"
Well young man grow older
And the world gets colder
Though it was never warm to begin
Don't let down your guard
For the reaper works hard
And he will not take pause 'till you're dead
Now I'm old and I'm rusty
My troubles like sand on the beach
They can't be calculated
I always have waited
For something, just out of reach
And I, to myself, am a stranger
My heart is "lighter than lead"
My world is astounding
With misery abounding
There's only one thing to be said
I say: "Jai di di dai"
(Other) "Jai di di dai"