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 t’Mammy!