Once I was a soldiernL rode on a big white horsenSilver pistols at my sidenCarryin' the flags of warnAnd I Iost track of the men who fellnIn the canon's roarnL never got over bein' a soldiernOnce I was a tax mannCollectin' dollars and dimesnL heard the rich man grumblenI heard the poor man crynSome few couldn't afford to paynWere put to a shackle and keynL never got over bein' a tax mannOnce I was a rulernAbout twelve inches longnThree times me made a yardstickn36 inches highn36 inches high was ln36 inches highnI never got over 36 inches high