Hallelujah, I'm a Bum
Encyclopedia
"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.
The version published in 1908 goes:
The music was quoted in the Charlie Chaplin movie "Modern Times" (1936), when Charlie is released from the home for the bewildered and trudges along the street before picking up the red flag that has dropped off the back of a truck.
Roud Folk Song Index
The Roud Folk Song Index is a database of 300,000 references to over 21,600 songs that have been collected from oral tradition in the English language from all over the world...
7992) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk song that responds with humorous sarcasm to unhelpful moralizing about the circumstance of being a hobo
Hobo
A hobo is a term which is often applied to a migratory worker or homeless vagabond, often penniless. The term originated in the Western—probably Northwestern—United States during the last decade of the 19th century. Unlike 'tramps', who work only when they are forced to, and 'bums', who do not...
.
The song's authorship is uncertain, but according to hobo poetry researcher Bud L. McKillips the words were written by an IWW
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
member. Some verses, though, may have been written by a Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
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
Harry McClintock
Harry Kirby McClintock , also known as "Haywire Mac," was an American singer and poet. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, "the son of a railroad cabinetmaker and nephew of four boomer trainmen. His drifting began when he ran away from home as a boy to join a circus...
could have written it in 1897
1897 in music
- Events :*January 13 - At a memorial concert in Paris for composer Emmanuel Chabrier , the first act of his uncompleted work, Briséïs, is performed for the first time.*March 27 - Premiere of Sergei Rachmaninoff's First Symphony...
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
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
branch as their anthem later that year. The success of their Free speech fights
Free speech fights
Free speech fights are conflicts over the right to speak freely, particularly involving the Industrial Workers of the World efforts in the early twentieth century to organize workers and publicly speak about labor issues...
of 1909 led to its widespread popularity.
The version published in 1908 goes:
- Why don't you work like other folks do?
- How the hell can I work when there's no work to do?
-
- Refrain
- 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 didn't 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.
Other versions
The New Christy Minstrels created another version which added more story to the original. This version goes:-
- I went to a house and I knocked on the door;
- The lady comes out and says, "You've been here before"
- She gives a loud whistle and I run for my life!
- Well, wouldn't you know, it's the constable's wife.
-
- Refrain:
- Hallelujah, I'm a bum,
- Hallelujah, bum again,
- Hallelujah, gimme a handout
- And you'll be my friend
-
- "Now, why don't you settle down and get yourself a wife?"
- "I'd rather be a BUM for the rest of me life!"
- "If you got a job, then you'd be my honey"
- "I wouldn't marry you if I had lots o' money!"
-
- Refrain
-
- "
- "And shing for my thupper when I'm down and out"
The music was quoted in the Charlie Chaplin movie "Modern Times" (1936), when Charlie is released from the home for the bewildered and trudges along the street before picking up the red flag that has dropped off the back of a truck.
Recordings
- Harry McClintockHarry McClintockHarry Kirby McClintock , also known as "Haywire Mac," was an American singer and poet. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, "the son of a railroad cabinetmaker and nephew of four boomer trainmen. His drifting began when he ran away from home as a boy to join a circus...
1928 - Vernon DalhartVernon DalhartVernon Dalhart , born Marion Try Slaughter, was a popular American singer and songwriter of the early decades of the 20th century. He is a major influence in the field of country music.-Early life:...
1928 - Al JolsonAl JolsonAl Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer"....
1928 - Jack Kaufman 1928
- Frank LutherFrank LutherFrank Luther was an American country music singer, dance band vocalist, playwright, songwriter and pianist.-Early life:...
1928 - Hobo Jack Turner 1928
- Pete Wiggins 1928
- Ted FioritoTed FioritoTheodore Salvatore Fiorito , known professionally as Ted Fio Rito, was an American composer, orchestra leader and keyboardist who was popular on national radio broadcasts in the 1920s and 30s...
1932 - George OlsenGeorge OlsenGeorge Edward Olsen, Sr. was an American band-leader.Born in Portland, Oregon, he played the drums and attended the University of Michigan, where he was drum major. Here he formed his band, George Olsen and his Music, which continued in the Portland area...
1933 - Dan Ritchie 1933
- Fats WallerFats WallerFats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
1939 Fine Arabian Stuff - Utah PhillipsUtah PhillipsBruce Duncan "Utah" Phillips was a labor organizer, folk singer, storyteller, poet and the "Golden Voice of the Great Southwest". He described the struggles of labor unions and the power of direct action, self-identifying as an anarchist...
Legends of Folk, We Have Fed You All - Pete SeegerPete SeegerPeter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
- The New Christy Minstrels
- "Spider" John Koerner Some American Folk Songs Like They Used ToSome American Folk Songs Like They Used ToSome American Folk Songs Like They Used To is an album by folk artist "Spider" John Koerner, released in 1974. The album is out of print.Guests on the album include fellow Koerner, Ray & Glover members Dave "Snaker" Ray and Tony "Little Sun" Glover....
- Tony GilkysonTony GilkysonTony Gilkyson is an Los Angeles based musician. He is the son of songwriter and folk musician Terry Gilkyson and Jane Gilkyson. He is the brother of guitarist Eliza Gilkyson.-Career:...
1998 Sparko
Published Versions
- 1908 song card, SpokaneSpokaneSpokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
I.W.W. - American Songbag 1927 Carl SandburgCarl SandburgCarl Sandburg was an American writer and editor, best known for his poetry. He won three Pulitzer Prizes, two for his poetry and another for a biography of Abraham Lincoln. H. L. Mencken called Carl Sandburg "indubitably an American in every pulse-beat."-Biography:Sandburg was born in Galesburg,...
page 184-185 - George Milburn, The Hobo's Hornbook, 1930
- Margaret Bradford Boni, Fireside Book of Folk Songs, 1947
- Edith FowkeEdith FowkeEdith Fowke, was a Canadian folklorist. Born on April 30, 1913, in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, she was educated at the University of Saskatchewan. She hosted the CBC Radio program Folk Song Time from 1950 to 1963...
and Joe GlazerJoe GlazerJoe Glazer , closely associated with labor unions and often referred to as the "labor's troubadour," was a US-American folk musician who recorded more than thirty albums over the course of his career....
, eds., Songs of Work and Protest 1973 page 127 - Little Red SongbookLittle Red Songbookthumb|180px|right|The Little Red SongbookSince the founding of the Industrial Workers of the World, also known as the IWW, songs have played a big part in spreading the message of the One Big Union...
Centenary Edition, 2005 - Rise Up SingingRise Up SingingRise Up Singing is a popular folk music fake book containing chords, lyrics, and sources. There are 1200 songs in the 2004 edition.The book does not include notation of the songs' melodies , meaning that users must either know the tune, or find a recording, to be able to learn many of the songs...
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