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
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 never saw that gal again, boy
I never saw that gal again
Saw that gal again
I never saw that gal again
Left that gal beside the railroad
I never saw that gal again
Traveled all over the country
I've traveled everywhere
Been on every branch line railroad
I never paid a nickel fare
I been from Maine to Californy
From Canada to Mexico
And I never tried to save no money
And now I got no place to go, boy
Now I got no place to go
Listen to a boomer's story
Pay attention to what I say
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
I can hear the trains go by
Just dig my grave beside the railroad
So I can hear the trains go by