From the sheet music at Baylor University:
BECAUSE SHE AIN'T BUILT THAT WAY
Words and music by J. F. Mitchell, 1886.
"As sung by Billy Rice of Thatcher, Primrose & West's Minstrels"1. Why is it a woman can't climb up a tree?
Because she ain't built that way.
And why is it two of them never agree?
Because she ain't built that way.
'Tis said that there is no effect without cause,
But a woman can never come under a clause,
For she never gives reason for wagging her jaws,
Because she ain't built that way.2. Don't give to your wife any secrets to keep,
Because she ain't built that way;
For she couldn't hold them, not even in sleep
Because she ain't built that way.
She'll keep you in water that's dreadfully hot
And she'll keep when she can all the change you have got,
But a secret, oh, Jiminy! certainly not,
Because she ain't built that way.3. Don't "mash" every girl that you see on the street
Because they're not built that way.
Don't rave of her figure so perfect and neat,
Because she ain't built that way.
With bustles and padding and heels that are high,
With blending of colors to capture the eye,
And the real from the sham you can't tell if you try
Oh, there's lots of them built that way.4. A woman cannot hit a barn with a stone,
Because she ain't built that way.
And she can't bear to stay in a house all alone,
Because she ain't built that way.
She can stay up all night at a masquerade ball
And tire every dancer there is in the hall.
Don't ask her to sew on a button; that's all,
Because she ain't built that way.5. I don't think my mother-in-law is a saint
Because she ain't built that way.
And now that I think, I'm quite certain she ain't
Because she ain't built that way.
She's down on my list for a few little things,
And when her career to a finish she brings,
I think they'll have trouble in fixing her wings
Because she ain't built that way.6. A woman can never jump over a fence
Because she ain't built that way.
If a mad bull should chase her, she has no defense
Because she ain't built that way.
She can kick up a row and upset every plan.
She's been noted for that since the world first began,
But she can't strike a match in the dark like a man
Because she ain't built that way.