D                                                G
Well, now my friends you'd never guess it | so I really must confess it
       D                                          A
I just met the sweetest woman | in my long dismal life.
      D                                  G
But a friend of mine said "Buddy just in case your mind is muddy
          D                                         A                 D
Don't you know that girl you're fooling with is old Peg-Leg Johnson's wife.
    A                                         D
And old Peg-Leg is big and mean and tough and grim
    E                                   A7
And he'll brain you with his artificial limb!"


[Verse 2]
D                                   G
But next morning bright and early I stole old Peg-Lg's girlie
      D                                        A
And I also took his wooden leg just to play it safe
          D                                      G
But there weren't no time for laughter 'cause he started hopping after
      D                                        A      D
Now I keep on running faster but he won't give up the chase.
   A                                           D
So now I'm running across the country with his bride
      E                              A
And I got his wooden leg right by my side.


[Chorus]
          D                       G
Now I'm a three-legged man with a two-legged woman
      D                      A
Being chased by a one-legged fool
        D                                G
Oh he's hoppin' and he's floppin' but he shows no sign of stoppin'
  D                  A                D
I tell you boys this life is hard and cruel.


[Verse 3]
          D                                 G
Cross the deserts and the valleys and those dark Chicago alleys
           D                                      A
Cross that mighty Mississippi to the hills of Caroline
          D                           G
Cross the mountains of Montana to the swamps of Louisiana
      D                               A         D
Every time that I look back he's just one leg behind
      A                                D
And I know he must be cold and wet and sick
       E                                  A
But in spite of all his woes he still can kick! 


[Chorus]
          D                       G
Oh, I'm a three-legged man with a two-legged woman
      D                      A
Being chased by a one-legged fool
        D                                G
Oh he's hoppin' and he's floppin' but he shows no sign of stoppin'
  D                  A                D
I tell you boys this life is hard and cruel.


[Verse 4]
          D                             G
Now he's ragged and he's filthy and I'm feeling kinda guilty
D                                                   A
Specially in the evenings when I hear him plead and beg
        D                                      G
He says in spite of all your stealing friend I bear you no hard feelings
         D                               A               D
“You can keep the blamed old woman, just give me back my leg!
         A                                     D
'Cause although that leg you meant to take was wooden
       E                           A
In the dark by mistake you took my good 'un!”


[Chorus]
          D                       G
Now I'm a three-legged man with a two-legged woman
      D                      A
Being chased by a one-legged fool
        D                                G
Oh he's hoppin' and he's floppin' but he shows no sign of stoppin'
  D                  A                D
I tell you boys this life is hard and cruel.


[Outro]
           D                       G
Yes, I'm a three-legged man with a two-legged woman
      D                      A
Being chased by a one-legged fool
        D                                G
Oh he's hoppin' and he's floppin' but he shows no sign of stoppin'
  D                  A                D
I tell you boys this life is hard and cruel.