(traditional, adapted by ry cooder)



Come and gather all around me

Listen to my tale of woe

Got some good advice to give you

Lots of things you oughta know

Take a tip from one who's travelled

And never stopped a-ramblin' 'round

'cause once you get the roamin' fever

You never want to settle down, boy

You never want to settle down



I met a little gal in frisco

And i asked her to be my wife

Told her i was tired of roamin'

Goin' to settle down for life

Then i heard the whistle blowin'

And i knew it was the red ball train

And i left that gal beside the railroad

And i never saw the gal again, boy

I never saw the gal again

Saw the gal again

I never saw the gal again

Left that gal beside the railroad

And i never saw the gal again



Travelled all over the country

I've travelled everywhere

I been on every branch line railroad

And i never paid a nickel fare

I been from maine to califor'ny

And from canada to mexico

I never tried to save no money

And now i got no place to bo, boy

Now i got no place to go



Listen to a boomer's story

Pay attention to what i say

Well, i hear another train a-comin'

Guess i'll be on my way

If you wanna do me a favor

When i lay me down and die

Just dig my grave beside the railroad

So i can hear the trains go by, boys

So i can hear the trains go by

Hear the trains go

Hear the trains go by

Just dig my grave beside the railroad

So i can hear the trains go by




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