Music » Other » SmokeyVW » Song
Hallelujah, I'm A Bum
by  SmokeyVW
0:00
3:15
Download
Share
Song information
Artist
SmokeyVW
"Hallelujah, I'm a Bum" (Roud 7992) is an American folk song that responds with humorous sarcasm to unhelpful moralizing about the circumstance of being a hobo.
The song's authorship is uncertain, but according to hobo poetry researcher Bud L. McKillips the words were written by an IWW member. Some verses, though, may have been written by a Kansas City hobo known only as "One-Finger Ellis," who scribbled it on the wall of his prison cell in 1897. There is also a questionable theory that Harry McClintock could have written it in 1897 when he was only fifteen.

Sung to the tune of "Revive Us Again", the song was printed by the Industrial Workers of the World in 1908, and adopted by its Spokane, Washington branch as their anthem later that year. The success of their Free speech fights of 1909 led to its widespread popularity.

from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallelujah,_I'm_a_Bum
Details
Released 09-Aug-2026
Category Other
Application GarageBand
File
Type mp3
Size 7.8 Mb
Activity
Plays 2
Downloads 0
Weekly plays 2
Weekly downloads 0
Rights and AI
License Commerical derivatives allowed; contact artist for permission
AI lyrics No
AI music/production No
Lyrics
Oh why don't you work like other men do? 
How in hell can I work, there's no work to do 

Hallelujah, I'm a bum 
Hallelujah, bum again 
Hallelujah, give us a handout 
To revive us again 

Oh why don't you save all the money you earn? 
If I did not eat I'd have money to burn 

Whenever I get all the money I earn 
The boss will be broke and to work he must turn 

Oh I like my boss, he's a good friend of mine 
That's why I am starving out on the bread line 

When springtime it comes, oh, won't we have fun 
We'll throw off our jobs, and go on the bum
Comments
Art Picks!

Beautiful selection of unique designs

High resolution graphics

Custom production runs available

www.artpicks.com

Search iBandstand
Welcome to iBandstand!

Join the community to share music, leave feedback, and keep up with the artists you enjoy.

Create an account or log in below
Forgot?