G                                            C
Well, my friends you'd never guess it | so I really must confess it
       G                                          D
I just met the sweetest woman | in my long dismal life.
      G                                  C
But a friend of mine said "Buddy just in case your mind is muddy
          G                                     D                 G
Don't you know that girl you're messin' with is Peg-Leg Johnson's wife.
        D                                 G
The man is big and tough and mean and grim
          A                             D7
And he'll brain you with his artificial limb!"


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


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


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


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


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


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


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