Early one day the sun wouldn't shine
I was walking down the street not feeling too fine
I saw two old men with a bottle between 'em
And this was the song that I heard them singing

Lord preserve us and protect us
We've been drinking whiskey 'fore breakfast

Well I stopped by the steps where they was sitting
And I couldn't believe how drunk they were getting
I said: Old men, have you been drinking long?
They said: Just long enough to be singing this song

Lord preserve us and protect us
We've been drinking whiskey 'fore breakfast

Well they passed me the bottle and I took a little sip
And it felt so good I just couldn't quit
I drank some more and next thing I knew
There were three of us sitting there singing this tune

Lord preserve us and protect us
We've been drinking whiskey 'fore breakfast

One by one everybody in the town
They heard our ruckus and they all came down
And pretty soon all the streets were ringing
With the sound of the whole town laughing and singing

Lord preserve us and protect us
We've been drinking whiskey 'fore breakfast

Lord preserve us and protect us
We've been drinking whiskey 'fore breakfast