For months and months and months around the country
Everybody sang Irene goodnight
But she wouldn't go to bed
No matter what they said
Though everybody tried with all their might
She stayed awake while steel guitars were going
In every honky-tonk she could be seen
Then she finally went to bed
Covered up her head
And now there's not a thing can wake Irene
Wake up, Irene
You slept too long
Wake up, Irene
It's time to move along
Wake up, Irene
And pay for your bed
Wake up, Irene
It's time to move along
Our folks will think you're dead
Now lots of guitar pickers by the dozen
Sang goodnight Irene all night and day
And even Crosby, too
With his boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-doo
Tried to get Irene to hit the hay
Well, I guess they finally signed her off to slumber
They must have tried a million times or more
And oh, my aching back
When she finally hit the sack
Man, you ought to hear that woman snore
Wake up, Irene
Wake up, Irene
You slept too long
Wake up, Irene
It's time to move along
Wake up, Irene
And pay for your bed
Wake up, Irene
Our folks will think you're dead