I am looking rather speedy now while holding down my claim
And my victuals are not always served the best
And the mice play shyly 'round me as I nestle down to rest
In the little old sod shanty on my claim

The hinges are of leather and the windows have no glass
And the board roof lets the howling blizzard in
And I hear the hungry coyote as he slinks up in the grass
'Round the little old sod shanty on my claim

Yet I rather like the novelty of living in this way
Though my bill of fare is always rather tame
But I'm happy as a clam on the land of Uncle Sam
In the little old sod shanty on my claim

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

My clothes are plastered o'er with dough, I'm looking like a fright
And everything is scattered 'round the room
But I wouldn't give the freedom that I have out in the West
For the table of the Eastern man's old home

Still, I wish that some kind-hearted 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 place her home she'd make
In the little old sod shanty on my claim

And we would make our fortunes on the prairies of the West;
Just as happy as two lovers we'd remain
We'd forget the trials and troubles we endured at the first
In the little old sod shanty on my claim

And if fate would kindly bless us both with, now and then, an heir
To cheer our hearts with honest pride of fame
Oh,  then we'd be contented for the toil we had spent
In the little old sod shanty on our claim