The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #76884 Message #4016361
Posted By: Lighter
31-Oct-19 - 11:18 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum
Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum
Spectator (Dec. 16, 1916), p. 765:
From the Manchester Guardian we take some curious specimens of the accidental literature of the song- writer. "Hallelujah, I'm a hobo, " is one of the popular songs at the front. It seems that this song was first sung by the unemployed in Canada when they paraded the streets. In its original form it ran something like this, being modelled on a well-known revivalist hymn :
" I walked up the street And I knocked at tho door, And she said, ' You're a hobo, I've seen you before.'
Chorus :
Hallelujah, I'm a hobo, Hallelujah, amen ! Hallelujah, get your hand down. Revive us again !
Oh, why don't you save All the money you earn. If I'd money to save, I'd have money to burn.
Hallelujah, &c.
Oh, I love my boss, He's a good friend of mine, That is why I am starving Out in the bread line.