My old mistress, she told me, raise a ruckus ---------
If she died she gonna set me free, raise a ruckus tonight
Well, she lived so long 'til her head got bald, raise a ruckus tonight
Then she got out of knowin' her time at all, raise a ruckus tonight
REFRAIN: Run along, little children, run along
Children, run while the moon is shining bright
We gonna step on boat and goin' down the river float
We shall raise us a ruckus tonight
If you wanta hear a rooster stomp and crow, raise a ruckus tonight
Just sprinkle little corn 'round your back door, raise a ruckus tonight
Just take you a stick in your right hand, raise a ruckus tonight
And knock that rooster in the Promised Land, raise a ruckus to------
REFRAIN: Run along, little children, run along
Children, run while the moon is shining bright
We gonna step on boat and goin' down the river float
We gon' raise us a ruckus tonight
Well, the peckerwood flew in the schoolhouse yard, raise a ruckus ---------
And he pecked and he pecked 'til his thing got hard, raise a ruckus to-----
And he flew from down to the schoolhouse door, raise a ruckus tonight
Then he pecked round there 'til his pecker got sore, raise a ruckus to------
REFRAIN: Run along, little children, run along
Children, run while the moon is shining bright
We gonna step on boat and goin' down the river float
We gon' raise us a ruckus tonight
NOTE: A line ending in a dash indicates that the guitar finished the line