Bert Williams recorded this under the title CHECKERS; Document Records and Spotify list it as CHECKERS (IT'S YOUR MOVE NOW). The following title and lyrics are copied from the sheet music at Baylor University:


IT'S YOUR MOVE NOW (IF YOU WANT TO PLAY CHECKERS)
Words by Billy Curtis, music by Murray Rubens, ©1920.

1. Sam Johnson was a checker fiend; he'd play from morn till night.
His wife would take in washin' and she figured 'twasn't right,
'Cause Sam did not contribute one red cent toward her support,
So Sam and her they mixed one night; next day Sam was in court.
The judge says: "Pay your wife eight bones a week."
Sam says: "I'm broke," then she began to speak.

CHORUS: She says: "If you ain't got it, you'd better go get it, 'cause it's your move now.
So you just break up your king row and give me the game, 'cause I'm bound to get eight men anyhow.
Now you can't win with four; there's no use tryin' hard to stall.
The first bad move you make, I'm goin' to crown you, and that's all.
So now if you ain't got it, you'd better go get it, 'cause it's your move now.

2. Sam Johnson started pleadin'; he says: "Hon, you know I'm broke.
How come you act this way, sweetheart?" She says: "I hope you choke.
That sweetheart stuff was very nice a long, long time ago,
But when poverty flies in the window, love flies out the door.
Now checkers they are all made out of wood,
And no wooden man can do me any good.

CHORUS: "So now if you ain't got it, you'd better go get it, 'cause it's your move now.
For there are twelve men on a jury, same as on a checkerboard, and you're goin' to need 'em all, you will allow.
Now I don't like to ball you, but there's time for everything,
And right now is the time to warble: 'O Lord, save my king!'
And if you don't protect it, I'm sure to jump it, and it's your move now."