The circus came to town,
To the circus I went
I didn't have a nickel,
I didn't have a cent

The circus man said
To see the show without a cent,
I'd have to carry water
For the elephant.

I carried water for the elephant,
Back and forth to the well I went
My arms got sore and my back got bent
But I couldn't fill up that elephant

I said to the dude
In the stand-up collar
"I'll bet you five bucks
That elephant's hollow"

He handed me a ticket,
Said, "First you'll see
The animals in
The menagerie."

First I sawed the lion
And the lion roared
I saw the wild sloth
And the wild sloth snored

I saw the wild snake
And the wild snake hissed
I saw the wild bee
And the wild bee bumbled

I saw mister possum
Sittin' on a limb
A big black bear
Sittin' next to him

I saw the little monkey,
Like in a zoo
The wild rooster said
"Cockle doodly doodle doo"

I saw the hippopotamus
Splash in the water
Trying to dance with
The crocodile's daughter

I saw the gazelle
And the big kangaroo
I heard an owl holler
"Hoo, hoo, hoo"

I saw the wild donkey
And the wild donkey brayed
I saw the wild horse
And the wild horse neighed

I saw the wild seal
And the wild seal barked
I saw the giraffe
And the giraffe yelled...

I went down to the circus tent
I sure am doggone glad I went
I saw the whole show -- didn't cost a cent
Because I carried water for the elephant.