One fine day as I was a-walkin' down the street
Spied a beggar man with rags upon his feet
Took a penny from my pocket, in his tin cup I did drop it
And I heard him say as I made my retreat

'May the bird of paradise fly up your nose
May an elephant caress you with his toes
May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose
May the bird of paradise fly up your nose'

My laundry man is really on his toes
Found a hundred-dollar bill among my clothes
When he called me, I came runnin', gave him back his dime for phonin'
And I heard him sayin' as I turned to go

'May the bird of paradise fly up your nose
May an elephant caress you with his toes
May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose
May the bird of paradise fly up your nose'

I was way behind one day to catch the train
The taxi driver said, 'We'll make it just the same
The speed cop made it with us and as he wrote out the ticket
I stood by politely waitin' for my change

'May the bird of paradise fly up your nose
May an elephant caress you with his toes
May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose
May the bird of paradise fly up your nose'

'May the bird of paradise fly up your nose
May an elephant caress you with his toes
May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose
May the bird of paradise fly up your nose'