(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