I'm looking rather seedy now, while holding down my claim
And my victals are not always served the best;
And the mice play shyly round me, as I nestle down to sleep,
In my little old sod shanty in the West.

Chorus:

The hinges are of leather and the windows have no glass,
While the board roof lets the howling blizzard in;
And hear the hungry coyote, as he sneaks up thru the grass,
Round my little old sod shanty on the claim.

Yet I rather like the novelty of living in this way,
Tho' my daily bill of fare is rather tame;
And I am happy as a clam‑ on this land of Uncle Sam,
In my little old sod shanty on the claim.

And when I left my Eastern home, a bachelor so gay
To try to win my way to wealth and fame,
I little thought that I'd come down to burning twisted hay,
In my little old sod shanty on the claim.

My clothes are plastered o'er with dough,
And I'm looking like a fright,
And every thing is scattered round the room;
But I would not give the freedom that I have out in the West,
For a bauble of an Eastern mansion home.

I wish that some kindhearted girl, would pity on me take,
And relieve me from the mess that I am in,
Oh, the angel how I'd bless her, if this her home she'd make
In my little old sod shanty on the claim.

The Little Old Sod Shanty on the Claim