The following is as George Withers sings it:

STONECRACKER JOHN

I sits by the roadside with great regularity
And I cracks up the stones for the highway authority;
Oh, whack-fol-the-riddle-O, I earns all me pay
For I cracks 'em and whacks 'em for nine pence a day;
Yes I do now, so I do now
For nine pence a day.

When the rich folks comes round with their wild-cat machinery
Oh, they kicks up the dust and they spoils all the greenery;
Oh, whack-fol-the-riddle-O, I chuckle and say
I would crack 'em and whack 'em, if I had my way;
Yes I would now, so I would now
If I had my way.

When the sweethearts go by and the girls look so cuddlesome
Well, it makes all the young men so moody and muddlesome;
Oh, whack-fol-the-riddle-O, if I had my way
I'd take 'em and shake 'em and show 'em the way;
Yes I would now, and I could now,
I would show 'em the way.

Well, now I draw near to the end of my history,
And what's to become of me? Well, that's a mystery;
So whack-fol-the-riddle-O, like the stones I d'say
You may crack me and whack me
But I've had my day;
Yes I have now, so I have now,
Yes I've had my way.
Oh, whack-fol-the-riddle-O, I chuckle and say
You may crack me and whack me
But I've had my day.

If you want the tune, PM me and I may be able to help.

Barbara