I sing some of this song, which I got from an old Bob Davenport recording...

Tim Radford

I Don't Work For A Living - Give Me a Hammer
by Edward Lee and James J. Mullan

Oh give me a nail and a hammer
And a picture to hang on the wall
Oh give me a stone stepladder
If you don't, well I might fall
Oh give me a bottle of whiskey
And a barrel of good stong Ale
And I bet you, I'll hang up that picture
If somebody drives the nail

I don't work for a living
I get along alright without
I don't toil all day
I suppose it's because I not built that way
Some people work for love
They say it's all sunshine and gain
But if I can't have sunshine without any work
I guess I'll stay out in the rain.

I've got a pal I think the world of
We never agree, this is why
He says he's the laziest person
That he is more lazy than I
So we made a bet to decide it
I won without trying, you see
When he reached for the dough, I just whispered
"Put the bet in my pocket for me"

I don't work for a living,
I get along all right without.
I live peacefully,
For labor disputes never worry me
I love my family,
And even my mother-in-law
I decided to make them all happy, that's why
I never go home any more.

Now I haven't got a red penny
The reason is I'm always broke
Of pawn tickets I haven't any
My wife's wash is all that's in soak
But I get my three square meals daily
And a place to sleep when it gets dark
If I can't find a bed in the alley
Then I'll find me a bench in the park.

I don't work for a living,
I get along all right without.
Work's not meant for me,
Why, even the thought hurts my dignity
My wife does all the work,
She even puts out the ash-can
But last night I got sore when the neighbors all yelled
"Why don't you put out your old man?"