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 sining 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