Well I've listened with patience to all your sad tales
When you're short of a smoke or the pub's got not ale
But tell me fair dinkum, I don't want you to kid
Have you ever been sipping and short of a quid

Have you been to strange town in search of job
Where a stranger's not welcome by the local born mob
You've probably done the same thing as I did
Stood around in the bar and was short of a quid

As I gazed at the drinkers all quenching their thirst
My lips were so dry I thought they would burst
I reckoned someone would notice but no-body did
Theyve apparently never been short of a quid

The publican's looks were black as the night
And I heard someone whisper, this blokes on the bite
So I held up my wrist-watch and called for a bid
But no one would buy it or lend me a quid

Oh you blokes who have money to travel in style
May laugh at my story but I too can smile
To the traveller and the drifter I'll raise my old head
Cause they know what its like to be short of a quid

Well I've listened with patience to all your sad tales
When you're short of a smoke, or the pubs got no ale
But tell me you Gypsies I don't want you to kid
Have you ever been travelling short of a quid