Now, go call the fire department, for my house is burning down Now, go call the fire department, for my house is burning down You know that must be little Martha Hardin, 'cause it's on the North side of town I see the people is running and I wonder who could it be I say the peoples is running, and I wonder who could it be You know that must be little Martha Hardin, I saw 'em turn down on Wilson Street When you see the Chief, boys, please clear the street Now, when you see the Chief, boys, please clear the street 'Cause you know he's goin' down, save little Martha Hardin's house for me She's a hard-workin' woman, you know her salaries is very small She's a hard-workin' woman, you know her salaries is very small Then when she pay up her house rent, that don't leave anything for insurance at all Now, I wrote little Martha a letter, five days it returned back to me Now, I wrote little Martha a letter, five days it returned back to me You know little Martha's house done burnt down, she done move over on Bradford Street