He was born in pain
And he lived in vain
So there's no wonder
He died insane.

Jonathan O'Brian walked a-sighing through the slum.
Some say he was crying and I know he was a bum.
He had been a-begging and a-dragging both his feet.
The poor man was a-staggering and stumbling down the street.

He had been a-drinking and a-thinking 'bout his wife.
She was fat and stinking and her age was forty-five.
So, he was afraid 'cause he was late for dinnertime.
He walked through the gate as if he'd done an awful crime.

When he came inside they started fighting in the dark
She was good at biting; she had teeth just like a shark.
She hit him with a stew-pot but I do not know just why
She messed up his head. Well - now he's dead and looking sly.

He was born in pain
And he lived in vain
So there's no wonder
He died insane.