Daddy, if you know we are hungry,
Know that we are very poor,
It must break your heart in Heaven,
'Cause you never did insure!
Mama wonders why you didn't
Save the cents you threw away,
But you felt too strong and healthy
For insurance, people say.

You were taken without warning,
Leaving us to fight alone;
You'd have taken our insurance
Daddy, if you'd not known!
Twasn't that you didn't love us,
I recall how dear you were,
But your little child must suffer,
'Cause you failed to save for her.

Mama just can't make the living.
She's wearing out she said!
I shall have to miss some schooling
For the sake of daily bread.
When she's gone I guess they'll take me
To a place of Charity
To be clothed and fed; but Daddy
It can never be home to me.

Maria's Daddy left insurance,
And their home will still be theirs.
They're not hungry. Sometimes Maria
Gives me cast off clothes she wears,

They don't have to take in sewing
Maria's mama doesn't cry,
For her daddy left insurance
But you didn't, Daddy - why?