I left my home in Tennessee, Thought I'd learn to travel, But then I met a pretty little girl And soon we played the devil I loved that gal and she loved me And I thought we'd live together But then we tied that fatal knot And now I'm gone forever.
Chorus: Gimme back my fifteen cents, Gimme back my money; Gimme back my fifteen cents And I'll go home to Mammy.
Twas fifteen cents for the preacher man A dollar for the paper, Then dear old mother-in-law moved in And, Lordy, what a caper! I fiddled a tune for her one day And she called me a joker Then that old sow got mad at me And hit me with a poker.
I worked in town and I worked on the farm, But there's no way t'suit'em They're both so dad-burn mean t'me Somebody oughta shoot'em. I'm tired of looking at my mother-in-law I'd like t'see m'Granny, Gonna leave the state of Arkansas And go back home to Mammy!