"We're sorry but the artist has decided not to disclose the lyrics for this song". Jody must not want anybody else to sing his songs. Why do you suppose that's so?

And he'll probably get his wish--at least on this one. Or perhaps he's just trying to encourage the folk process--which is guaranteed to happen when you learn a song but can't quite get all the words--so have to guess--or make up plausible lyrics.

At any rate, this is my best guess--with much assistance from Jan.

17 Cents

17 cents is a whale of a lot
17 cents is what I got
Grocery bills, the heat and the rent
All I got left is 17 cents
(Chorus)
19, 18, 17 cents
Dirty old dime and the penny's bent
Ain't seen nothing of m'darlin' since
She left me here with 17 cents.

Down the road, round the bend
Look at the cold as the rain comes in
Over the fields and under the fence
My pocket was lined with 17 cents.
(Ch)

I got a letter from the IRS
"You owe back taxes--17 cents"
Wish I had all the money they spent
Spent on bringing in 17 cents.

(Ch)--except "Ain't seen nothing of m' Jody since...."

Chicken chow fong and pishu fried
Got hot chili on a Saturday night
Waitress threw me over the fence
Cause the tip I left was 17 cents
(Alternate chorus)
17 cents--soapy tea
She threw it on the table and it spilled on me
Chicken was fake and the greens was dead
Could have stayed home for 17 cents.

Went to Nashville--wrote me a song
Put it on a record by Fiddlin' John
.................Roy..............Jody------(can't figure out this line at all)
Royalty check was 17 cents
(Ch)

Down the road, skid row gents
Always begged for 17 cents
Never did find out where they went
To buy anything for 17 cents
(Alternate chorus)
17 cents for a cup of joe, ticket home or a burger roll
Never did find out where Ed spent
To buy such things for 17 cents

Repeat first verse.

Note: the "skid row gents" verse is the origin of the song. Jody--and some of his friends--were often asked by a particular man in San Francisco for 17 cents.