And most of us were wishing
that we never had been born.
The north wind just a -howling,
letting in the sleet and rain,
But the smoke went up the chimney
losing all their summer state,
And some were stealing cookies
that the cook had chance to make.
The flonky -choppin' firewood
says we're drivin' him insane,
But the smoke went up the chimney
For breakfast we get flapjacks,
for dinner pork and bean,
For supper a big chunk of pork
They ain't no use complainin',
boys, there ain't a thing to gain,
When the smoke went up the chimney
One day we boys decided four
to have some different chunk
cause he always had good luck
And soon the pot was failing
and the fragrance sure was tame
But the smoke went up the chimney
We had beef and spuds and carrot
boys that made a dandy stew
Along with chunks of turnips
that they never would cook through
that are noted for their fame,
But the smoke went up the chimney
Oh, after we had eaten all the
chuck that we could hold,
Decided we had better rest
But soon we gets a feeling,
boys, it turned into a pain,
But the smoke went up the chimney
Old Jim led him to laughing
at the way we all performed
He said he never had such fun
since the day that he was born
He said he'd made a big mistake
and the only one to blame
But the smoke went up the chimney
He was putting in some seasoning
A sack fell off the pantry shelf
There's a little sack of hidey -ho
But the smoke went up the chimney
And now you've heard the mystery
Of the cowboy and their stew
Next mornin' all were grumblin'
And a -feelin' mighty blue
And a -singin' this refrain
And the smoke went up the chimney