Ramblin' Reckless Hobo

Round when Reddy Swalburn left his happy home
Started on a western trip by himself alone
He said, "Upon this western trip, I guess I'll have some fun"
Standing at the station house, and this was the song he sung

Standing on that platform, a-smoking a cheap cigar
Waiting for a freight train to catch an empty car
Thinking of the good old times, a-wishing they'd come again
A thousand miles away from home, a-bumming a railroad train

Kind miss, kind miss, will you give me a bite to eat?
A little piece of cold cornbread and a little piece of meat
She threw her arms around me, said, "Love you as a friend
But if I give to you this time, you'll be bumming around again"

Kind miss, kind miss, don't talk to me so rough
You think I'm a hobo because I look so tough
She took me in her kitchen and treated me nice and kind
She put me in the notion of bumming all the time

When I left her kitchen, I was strolling down in town
I heard the doubleheader blow, I thought he's western bound
I walked out to the railroad, out to the railroad track
I heard the agent tell a man that freight train would not stop

My heart began to roll around and I began to sing
If that freight train goes through
This town, I'll catch her on the wing
I pulled my cap down over my eyes, I walked out to the track
I caught me a step of an empty car, I never did look back

I got off in Danville, got stuck on a Danville girl
You bet your life, she's out of sight, she wore the Danville curl
She wore her hair on the back of her head like high-tone people do
The westbound train pulled out tonight, I bid that girl adieu

Now I'm in the city, boys, I'm trying to do what's right
Don't think because I'm a railroad boy that I am not alright
My pocketbook is empty, my heart is filled with pain
I'm a thousand miles away from home, a-bumming a railroad train