Wagon Wheel
Darius Rucker Lyrics

Heading down south to the land of the pines
Starting a journey towards the southern region known for pine trees

I'm thumbing my way into North Caroline
Hitchhiking my way towards North Carolina

Staring up the road and pray to God I see headlights
Hoping for a ride from a passing vehicle

I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
Covered entire coastline in 17 hours

Picking me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
Collecting a bundle of dogwood flowers along the way

And I'm a-hopin' for Raleigh, I can see my baby tonight
Eagerly looking forward to reuniting with my love in Raleigh

So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Please console me like the soothing sway of a wagon wheel ride

Rock me mama any way you feel
Comfort me in any way that seems suitable to you

Hey, mama rock me
Just console me and make me feel better

Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Comfort me like the powerful yet comforting forces of wind and rain

Rock me mama like a south bound train
Rock me gently and rhythmically like the motion of a train headed south

I'm running from the cold up in New England
Escaping the cold weather in New England

I was born to be a fiddler in an old time string band
Destined to be a fiddler in a traditional string band

My baby plays a guitar, I pick a banjo now
My partner now plays the guitar while I play the banjo

Oh, north country winters keep a-getting me down
The harsh winters of the northern region keep bringing me down

Lost my money playing poker so I had to leave town
Became penniless due to playing poker and was forced to leave town

But I ain't a-turning back to living that old life no more
Determined to not go back to my old way of living anymore

Walkin' to the south out of Roanoke
Walking southward out of Roanoke

I caught a trucker out of Philly had a nice long toke
Got a lift from a trucker from Philly and smoked cannabis

But he's a heading west from the Cumberland gap
The trucker is going towards west from the Cumberland Gap

To Johnson City, Tennessee
Heading towards Johnson City in Tennessee

I gotta get a move on before the sun
Need to hurry before sunrise

I hear my baby calling my name and I know that she's the only one
Can hear my loved one calling out my name and know that she is the only one for me

And if I die in Raleigh at least I will die free
Even if I die in Raleigh, I am satisfied that I lived freely till the end

Oh, so rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Please rock me mom like the motion of a wagon wheel

Rock me mama any way you feel
Convey your affection in any manner that feels suitable

Hey, hey, mama rock (mama rock me, mama rock me)
Please mom, console me and give me love

Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Provide comfort, solace and warmth like the gust and shower of wind and rain

I wanna rock like a south bound train
Want to be consoled and feel better like the gentle but rhythmic motion of a train headed south

Hey, yeah, yeah, mama rock me (you can rock me, rock me)
Please mom, make me feel better, console me with your love, you have the power to do so