I get up early in the morning (What for, Papa?), sweet mama, then I go and curry my horse
I get up early in the morning, sweet mama, then I go and curry my horse (Must be awful great, your horse?)
'Cause I don't want nobody, not to be my boss
Then I pull up to the coal pile, (What are you doin' then, Papa?) get me a joint of pints of coal
Then I pull up to the coal pile, get me a joint of washed nut coal
Then I get on my wagon, and I'm an old travelin' soul
Lord, I sell my washed nut coal (How much for your coal?), thirty-five cents a bag
Lord, I sell my washed nut coal, thirty-five cents a bag (Must be good coal, it's awful steep)
And if you want to know my name, just look out on my tag
Whilst I on my wagon (What you doin' then, Papa?), tryin' my best to sell my coal
Whilst I'm on my wagon, tryin' my best to sell my coal (Oh, sell it, Papa! Sell that coal)
My baby's back home, serving my jellyroll
Now, a lot of you women, some of you all ought to be put in jail (What you want all these women locked up for, Papa?)
Now, a lot of you women, some of you all ought to be put in jail (You want all these women locked up, Papa?)
From standing on the corner, tryin' your best to sell cheap shale
I got coal (Coal, man!), I'm peddlin' coal (Please bring me that coal)
I'm sellin' coal (How much for that coal now?), I'm deliverin' coal (Must be good coal)
Handlin' (Nut coal?), handlin' (?) (Come here, buy a great round of nut coal)
Oh, I got coal, doggone your soul
Baby, baby, baby, can't you see your papa's got coal?
Doggone your soul