I do hate to see a rover crippled in the stones
  Now he's one step nearer to the ground
  And I do hate to see a hawker broken in the bones
  
  (Chorus)
  Sickness and diseases pull you down, pull you down
  Sickness and diseases pull you down
  
  Everybody's got the sickness, everybody's down
  Running to the doctor with a pound
  "Doctor, doctor, do you have a needle big enough for me?"
  
  (Chorus)
  
  (Chorus)
  
  My friend Billy, well he looks so ill, his face is white as milk
  Everybody runs for miles when he's in town
  He's got every known disease and some without a name
  
  (Chorus)
  
  If you want to live to be a poor man or a prince
  Pay good attention when evil times abound
  Always listen to what your mother says and stay in bed at night
  
  (Chorus)