Boomer's Story

(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