One Tuesday morning and it looked like rain,
Around the curve come a passenger train.
On the blinds sat old Bill Jones -
He’s a good old hobo and he’s trying to get home.
Trying to get home, and he’s trying to get home -
He’s a good old hobo and he’s trying to get home
Way down in Georgia on a tramp,
The roads are getting muddy and the leaves are getting damp.
I’ve got to catch a freight train and leave this town,
‘Cause they don’t allow no hobos a-hanging around.
Hanging around, yes, hanging around,
‘Cause they don’t allow no hobos a-hanging around
I left Atlanta one morning ‘fore day.
The brakeman says, “You gonna have to pay.”
I got no money, but I’ll pawn my shoes -
I want to go west, I got the Milwaukee blues.
I got the Milwaukee blues, I got the Milwaukee blues -
I want to go west, I got the Milwaukee blues
Old Bill Jones said before he died,
“Fix the roads so the ‘bos can ride,
And when they ride they will ride the rods
And put their trust in the hands of God.
In the hands of God, in the hands of God -
They’re gonna put their trust in the hands of God.”
Old Bill Jones said before he died,
There’s two more roads he’d like to ride.
Fireman said, “What can it be?”
“Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe.
Santa Fe, yes, you got the Santa Fe,
Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe.”
Loudon Wainwright III guitar, lead vocal
Chaim Tannenbaum banjo, back vocal
David Mansfield violin
Tim Luntzel bass
Public Domain and, as adapted and arranged, published by Snowden Music (ASCAP) and Two Fourteen Music (Administered by Spirit One Music) (BMI)
& © 2nd Story Sound Records