Ramblin
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics

The song “Ramblin’ Around” was penned by the legendary Woody Guthrie and famously performed by his son Arlo Guthrie. The lyrics describe the singer’s journey through different cities and towns, where he never sees a friendly face. The singers' mother had high hopes of him, but due to some unknown reason, he becomes a refugee and goes rambling around. The singer mentions the abundance of peaches growing on the trees, which he picks all day long for only a dollar. However, sometimes the fruit rots away and goes to waste, while there are still people who long to quell their hunger.

Despite sounding like a rather simplistic folksong with melancholic lyrics, the song has a deeper meaning. It speaks of the isolation and loneliness one can feel when travelling and being out of touch with friends and family. The sense of displacement and feeling of being lost is conveyed through the melody and the poetic lines. The peaches, symbolically, are a representation of the singer's hard work in exchange for little reward. The song also emphasises the contrast where the fruit is abundant and still goes to waste when people around are starving.

Woody Guthrie has inspired many folk artists who have covered his songs over the years. However, it was Arlo Guthrie’s interpretation of the song that brought it to the forefront. His distinctive vocal style proved to be the perfect match for the song's wistful lyrics, making it an iconic piece of music. The song has been covered by numerous artists like Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and Martin Simpson, amongst others. “Ramblin’ Around” has also been featured in different television shows and movies, giving it mainstream recognition.