I would sooner be a beggar than a king And I'll tell you the reason why A king cannot swagger or walk like a beggar Or be half as happy as I Let your back and sides go bare me boys Feet and your hands go cold But give to your belly, boys Beer enough Whether it be new or old Oh, I've a sixpence in my pocket lads And I worked very hard for that Oh there ain't no Turk that's gonna make me work When the beggin' is as good as that Let your back and sides go bare me boys Feet and your hands go cold But give to your belly, boys Beer enough Whether it be new or old Sometimes we call at a nobleman's hall To beg for bread and beer Sometimes we are lame Sometimes we are blind Sometimes too deaf to hear Let your back and sides go bare me boys Feet and your hands go cold But give to your belly, boys Beer enough Whether it be new or old Sometimes we lie like hogs in a sty Frost and snow on the ground Sometimes eat a crust that's rolled in the dust And by thankful for what we've found Let your back and sides go bare me boys Feet and your hands go cold But give to your belly, boys Beer enough Whether it be new or old Let your back and sides go bare me boys Feet and your hands go cold But give to your belly, boys Beer enough Whether it be new or old Let your back and sides go bare me boys Feet and your hands go cold But give to your belly, boys Beer enough Whether it be new or old