Louis Jordan — Have You Got the Gumption

Whenever sponge-nosed Pete Met the cop on the beat He was higher than a fly on a spray Any day When Pete knew he was booked At the policeman he'd looked And defending his virtue You could hear him say Have you got the gumption To make the assumption That I'm inebriated? Have you got the gall To say alcohol has gone to my wig? I ain't had a drink, sir Since I made the clink, sir The night I celebrated At the garbage man's ball When we had that brawl You remember, officer? You may be the law Still, there could be a flaw In your calculations, old top I got troubles enough I ain't even touchin' the stuff Not even a wee *hic* little drop Just draw with some chalk, sir A line and I'll walk, sir Straighter than a judge man Have you got the gumption To make the assumption that I'm pinched? [Instrumental break] Yes, you may be the law Still, there could be a flaw In your calculations, old top I got troubles enough I'm not even touchin' the stuff Not even a wee *hic* little drop Just draw with some chalk, sir A line and I'll walk, sir Straighter than a judge man Have you got the gumption To make the assumption that I'm pinched? You mean officer, you're gonna put me in jail? Don't close that gate! Let me take a walk, I'll be straight Hey officer! Take these things off my arm I ain't gonna do nobody no harm Oh, officer! I know the captain of the priest said- Don't hit me with that blackjack I ain't comin' back Oh ociffer! If I've got to go Let me take my horn So I could be real darn Oh ociffer, you're doin' wrong, ociffer