The Poor Old Bum - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
THE POOR OLD BUM Copyright, 1878, by O. Ditson & Co. Words by Francis C. Long. Music by Carl Richter. 
Not many years ago I was wealthy, you shall know; I had houses, lands, and bonds of Uncle Sam. Then my wife with gems did gleam, aim I drove a tandem team. Now you can plainly see just what I am. 
Chorus. Oh, I'm a poor old bum, and my curse it has been rum. Still I like to linger where the glasses clink, clink, clink; But with every drink I take, a sad mistake I make, Yet I'd pawn myself this minute for a drink, drink, drink. 
There are other men, I see, who are bummers just like me, They have fallen in the tempter's iron grip; How we'd bang our heads in shame if some one was but to name All the tricks we daily play to get a nip.-Chorus. 
Ah! too late I learned to know bar-room friendship is a show; Oft we curse a man while handing him a cup; Still around the bars I mope, fondly clinging to the hope That some verdant one will come and set 'em Up.-Chorus. 
The chums I used to treat often meet me on the street, And they puss me with a cold and freezing frown; Hoys, I warn you one and all, drink will surely cause your fall. And nobody will stand by you when you're down.-Chorus.