(Verse 1)
De Shanghai chicken, when you put him in de pit
He'll eat a loaf of bread up, but he can't fight a bit
De Shanghai fiddle is a funny little thing
And ev'ry time you tune him up he goes ching ching

(Chorus)
Oh de Shanghai!
Don't bet your money on de Shanghai!
Take de little chicken in de middle ob de ring
But don't bet your money on de Shanghai

(Verse 2)
I go to de fair for to see de funny fowls
De double headed pigeon and de one-eyed owls
De old lame goose wid no web between his toes
He kills himself a-laughing when de Shanghai crows

(Chorus)
Oh de Shanghai!
Don't bet your money on de Shanghai!
Take de little chicken in de middle ob de ring
But don't bet your money on de Shanghai

(Verse 3)
De Shanghai's tall, but his appetite is small
He'll only swallow everything that he can overhaul
Four bags of wheat just as certain as you're born
A bushel of potatoes and a tub full of corn
(Chorus)
Oh de Shanghai!
Don't bet your money on de Shanghai!
Take de little chicken in de middle ob de ring
But don't bet your money on de Shanghai