I'M GONNA QUIT SATURDAY
Words by P. D. Cook; music by Harry Archer, ©1921.
As recorded by Bert Williams, 1920.

1. When I was broke, and in the South,
I heard it told by word of mouth
That I should come up to New York town
'Cause there was plenty of soft jobs to be found.
But since that, every job I've had
Just seems to sort o' turn out bad.
This railroad job, the boss says to me: "Man,
Why, you can make good money here, understand?"
And he said "good money"—boy, I love it!
Well, the money is good, but it don't seem to be enough of it.

CHORUS 1: So I'm gon' quit—yes-sir!—Saturday! Take that straight from me.
I'm gonna quit on Saturday, and that's sho' as sho' can be.
I don't seem to be able to get the knack
Of just keep on walkin' up and down all these railroad tracks
With sometimes fifteen trunks hung on my back,
So I'm gon' quit—yes-sir!—Saturday.

2. He's got a habit round here of late
Of orderin' me out to help with the freight.
Now Sunday the circus is due in town—
Yes-sir!—and there's gon' be a lot o' freight hangin' round.
Now, they told me way here last Monday
That I've got to help with the freight on next Sunday.
'Course, when they make you work on the sabbath day,
They always give you some sort o' little extra pay.
Now there's gonna be lions with that freight,
And I sees no sense in me temptin' fate.

CHORUS 2: So I'm gon' quit—yes-sir!—Saturday, sho' as sho' can be.
I am going to quit on Saturday; take that straight from me.
'Course this Sunday pay, that's nice and sweet,
But my better judgment tells me: be discreet,
'Cause I know that lions really love dark meat,
So I'm gon' quit—yes-sir!—Saturday.