What you git dat nickel change
Up in coppers fo’,
What de preacher gib ter you
Las’ night ’fo’e he go?
Bet you soon be wid dem chaps
Roun’ de corner playin’ craps.
What you say? You done bin dar?
Is you, nigger, sho?
Den de Black Maria git you
Sho’s de pleeceman know
’Bout dem dirty little chaps
Roun’ de corner playin’ craps.
What you gwine make up ter tell
Preacher Jones, Eli,
When he as’ you ’bout dat nickel—
When, en how, en why?
Dat you los’ it ter dem chaps
Roun’ de corner playin’ craps?

Neber los’ it? Well, I say!
Why you talk so slow?
Bring dat money out ter sight,
So I sho kin know
If you ’scape dem cunnin’ chaps
Roun’ de corner playin’ craps.
Thirteen ob dem! Thirteen coppers,
Sho ez I’m erlive!
Han’ dem ebry one to me—
Scusin ob des five;—
En you stay ’way frum them chaps
Roun’ de corner playin’ craps!