Money in the hand is the Yankee dollar bill
Money in the hand is the Yankee dollar bill
Money in the hand is the Yankee dollar bill
Money in the hand is the Yankee dollar bill
Oh, with the big, big bamboo, bamboo
O la la la la la la la la la
Working for the Yankee dollar

Well I asked my lady, "What should I do to make her happy and make love true?"
She said, "The only thing that I want from you is a little, little piece of a big bamboo"
With the big, big bamboo, bamboo
O la la la la la la la la la
Working for the Yankee dollar

Well, I gave my lady a sugar cane
Sweet up the sweets I did explain
She gave it back to my surprise
She liked the flavour but not the size
She wants the big, big bamboo, bamboo
O la la la la la la la la la
Working for the Yankee dollar

Well, I gave my lady a coconut
She said, "I like it, it's OK but the only thing that worries me, what good are the nuts without the tree?"
I want the big, big bamboo, bamboo
O la la la la la la la la la
Working for the Yankee dollar

Now I gave my lady a banana plant
She said, "I like it, it's elegant
You must not let it go to waste
It's much too soft to suit my taste?"
I want the big, big bamboo, bamboo
O la la la la la la la la la
Working for the Yankee dollar

Now I met a Chinese Mongol Dig Hung Do
He got married, went to Mexico
His wife divorced him very quick
She wants bamboo and not chopstick
It is the big, big bamboo, bamboo
O la la la la la la la la la
Working for the Yankee dollar

Money in the hand is the Yankee dollar bill
Money in the hand is the Yankee dollar bill
Money in the hand is the Yankee dollar bill
Money in the hand is the Yankee dollar bill