When I was a little boy
Daddy used to say to me son
We got a lotta land
And a lotta hard work to be done

Go get your marbles put 'em in the house
Tear down your castles in the sand
Come with your pappy to the cotton patch
Get a little dirt on your hands
Get a little dirt on your hands

Get a little dirt on your hands son
Get a little dirt on your hands
If you're gonna grow up to be a big big man
Get a little dirt on your hands
Get a little dirt on your hands

Well, I reached twenty one
And I thought I was a pretty big wheel
Left the country for the city
Met a slicker with a shady deal

He said hold up the bank boy and take all the money
And run as fast as you can
The only way you'll ever get along in this world
Is to get a little dirt on your hands
Get a little dirt on your hands

Get a little dirt on your hands son
Get a little dirt on your hands
If you're gonna grow up to be a big big man
Get a little dirt on your hands
Get a little dirt on your hands

Well, it's four in the morning
And the warden is calling my name
He said he's teaching me a lesson now
He's making me go work in the rain

Dig that ditch boy, fill it up
I'm wantin' you to understand
The only way to straighten out a guy like you
Is to get a little dirt on his hands
Get a little dirt on his hands

Hey David gotta get a little dirt on those hands boy
Yeah, if you want to grow up to be a big big man
You better remember what old whispering bill told you in this song
Get a little dirt on those hands

Get a little dirt on your hands son
Get a little dirt on your hands
If you wanna grow up to be a big big man
Get a little dirt on your hands
Get a little dirt on your hands

Get a little dirt on your hands son
I gotta little dirt on my hands
Get a little dirt on your hands