A smith had an apprentice once
Who was not very fa-a-a-a-ast,
Of all the workers in the crew
He always was the last.
But this is what he did at noon
When lunch was served for all;
He was the first one in the line,
He never missed the call.

Hallee halloh, halloh hallee,
We're just as gay as we can be.
Hallee halloh, halloh hallee,
There's none as gay as we.
Tra la la, tra la la,
As gay as we can be.
Tra la la, tra la la,
As gay as we.

The blacksmith said to him,
"My boy, I wonder, yes I do-o-o-o-o.
I always thought that 'slow at work'
Meant 'slow at eating' too.
With you, it doesn't work that way,
You save your hands and feet.
At work, you're slow and lazy,
But you hurry when you eat."

Hallee halloh, halloh hallee,
We're just as gay as we can be.
Hallee halloh, halloh hallee,
There's none as gay as we.
Tra la la, tra la la,
As gay as we can be.
Tra la la, tra la la,
As gay as we.

"You wonder, well, I'll tell you!"
Said the young man with a ro-o-o-o-oar,
"We eat a mere one-hour lunch,
But work for FOURTEEN more.
Now, if I'd use those fourteen hours
To lunch instead of work,
I'd eat as slowly as could be,
But work I would not shirk!"

Hallee halloh, halloh hallee,
We're just as gay as we can be.
Hallee halloh, halloh hallee,
There's none as gay as we.
Tra la la, tra la la,
As gay as we can be.
Tra la la, tra la la,
As gay as we.