Play your fiddle, Little Orphan Annie
Play it for the shrimpers and the pirates out to sea
Play it for the hippies down in Mallory Square
If I'm not there, won't you play a song for me?

We all called her Little Orphan Annie at the playground
Merry go, merry go, merry go round
Till she picked her fiddle up, we always put her down
When she picked her fiddle up
They come for miles around to hear her play

Play your fiddle, Little Orphan Annie
Play it for the shrimpers and the pirates out to sea
Play it for the hippies down in Mallory Square
If I'm not there, won't you play a song for me?

Aww, mad dog, diamond, Jim Richmond from the Tennessee Hot Band
John Hartford on the banjo, oh diamond, my oldest son Dale
John Hartford playin' the fiddle
And the banjo, Diamond Jim