There was an old man who lived under the hill, Chir-u-ra-wee, lived under the hill, And if he ain't dead he's living there still, Chir-u-ra-wee, living there still.
One day the old man went out to plow, Chir-u-ra-wee, went out to plow; 'Tis good-bye the old fellow, and how are you now, Sing chir-u-ra-wee, and how are you now.
And then another came to his house, Chir-u-ra-wee, came to his house; "There's one of your family I've got to have now, Sing chir-u-ra-wee, got to have now.
"It's neither you nor your oldest son, Chir-u-ra-wee, nor your oldest son." "Then take my old woman and take her for fun, Sing chir-u-ra-wee, take her for fun."
He takened her all upon his back, Chir-u-ra-wee, upon his back, And like an old rascal went rickity rack, Sing chir-u-ra-wee, went rickity rack.
But when he got half way up the road, Chir-u-ra-wee, up the road, Says he, "You old lady, you're sure a load," Sing chir-u-ra-wee, you're sure a load.
He set her down on a stump to rest, Chir-u-ra-wee, stump to rest; She up with a stick and hit him her best. Sing chir-u-ra-wee, hit him her best.
He taken her on to hell's old gate, Chir-u-ra-wee, hell's old gate, But when he got there he got there too late, Sing chir-u-ra-wee, got there too late.
And so he had to keep his wife, Chir-u-ra-wee, had to keep his wife, And keep her he did for the rest of his life. Sing chir-u-ra-wee, for the rest of his life.