he circus came to town,

To the circus I went

I didn't have a nickel,

I didn't have a cent

.

The circus man said

To see the show without a cent,

I'd have to carry water

For the elephant.

.

I carried water for the elephant,

Back and forth to the well I went

My arms got sore and my back got bent

But I couldn't fill up that elephant

.

I said to the dude

In the stand-up collar

"I'll bet you five bucks

That elephant's hollow"

.

He handed me a ticket,

Said, "First you'll see

The animals in

The menagerie."

.

First I sawed the lion

And the lion roared

I saw the wild sloth

And the wild sloth snored

I saw the wild snake

And the wild snake hissed

I saw the wild bee

And the wild bee bumbled

I saw mister possum

Sittin' on a limb

A big black bear

Sittin' next to him

.

I saw the d6f little monkey,

Like in a zoo

The wild rooster said

"Cockle doodly doodle doo"

.

I saw the hippopotamus

Splash in the water

Trying to dance with

The crocodile's daughter

.

I saw the gazelle

And the big kangaroo

I heard an owl holler

"Hoo, hoo, hoo"

.

I saw the wild donkey

And the wild donkey brayed

I saw the wild horse

And the wild horse neighed

.

I saw the wild seal

And the wild seal barked

I saw the giraffe

And the giraffe yelled...

.

I went down to the circus tent

I sure am doggone glad I went

I saw the whole show -- didn't cost a cent

Because I carried water for the elephant.