The album was re-released on Smithsonian Folkways on CD in 1990 with additional tracks from the 1970s.
Rambling Hobo
The Doc Watson Family Lyrics
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On a cold November day
In a cold and lonesome box car
A dyin hobo lay
His pal sat there before him
With a low and drooping head
Listening to the last words
Goodbye old pardner hobo
I hate to say goodbye
But I hear my train a comin
& I know shes getting nigh
Gonna tell that old conductor
Just when I'm gonna stop
Where the little stream of water
Comes tumblin down the rock
We rode the rocks together
We rambled all around
In every kind of weather
We slept out on the ground
Oh pardner don't you miss that train
That always makes a stop
Where the little stream of water
Comes tumblin down the rock
Would you tell my girl from Danville
That she need not worry a tall
I'm a goin to that country
Where I won't have to work at all
No I wll not have to work there
Or never change my socks
Where the little stream of water
Comes tumblin down the rocks
I'm a goin to that better place
Where everything is right
Where handouts grow on bushes
And they sleep out every night
I won't have to wash my overhauls
Or never change my socks
Where the little stream of water
Comes tumblin down the rocks
The Doc Watson Family's song Rambling Hobo tells the story of a dying hobo laying in a boxcar with his pal sitting next to him. The dying hobo bids farewell to his friend and tells him that he hears his train coming and he knows it is getting close. The dying hobo tells his friend to tell the conductor when to stop the train. He wants to get off where the little stream of water comes tumbling down the rock. The dying hobo reminds his friend of the times they had together riding the rails and sleeping out on the ground in all kinds of weather. He asks his friend to tell his girl not to worry, as he is going to a better place where everything is right, and handouts grow on bushes, and he won't have to work or change his socks.
The lyrics of Rambling Hobo reflect the harsh reality of the lives of the hobos during the Great Depression. The song captures the loneliness, hardship, and sense of despair that poverty and homelessness could bring. It also evokes the strong sense of camaraderie and friendship that hobos developed among themselves as they traveled the country in search of work and a better life. The dying hobo's longing for a better place also symbolizes the hope that kept many hobos going even in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a mile west of the water tank
The story begins a mile west of a water tank
On a cold November day
The day is a cold November one
In a cold and lonesome box car
The singer is in a cold and lonely box car
A dyin hobo lay
There is a dying hobo lay in the box car
His pal sat there before him
The artist's friend is sitting in front of him
With a low and drooping head
The friend looks sad and downtrodden
Listening to the last words
The friend is listening to the dying hobo's last words
His dying buddy said
The dying hobo speaks his last words
Goodbye old pardner hobo
The dying hobo says goodbye to his friend
I hate to say goodbye
The dying hobo is sad about leaving his friend
But I hear my train a comin
The dying hobo hears his train arriving
& I know shes getting nigh
He knows his train is coming soon
Gonna tell that old conductor
The dying hobo will tell the train conductor something
Just when I'm gonna stop
He will tell the conductor when he wants to stop
Where the little stream of water
The dying hobo wants to get off the train near a small stream of water
Comes tumblin down the rock
This stream of water is falling down a rock
We rode the rocks together
The hobo and his friend have traveled together
We rambled all around
They have traveled far and wide
In every kind of weather
They have experienced different types of weather
We slept out on the ground
They have slept on the ground outside
Oh pardner don't you miss that train
The dying hobo doesn't want his friend to miss that train
That always makes a stop
The train they are on always makes a stop
Would you tell my girl from Danville
The dying hobo has a girl in Danville
That she need not worry a tall
He wants his girl to know that she doesn't need to worry anymore
I'm a goin to that country
He is going to another place
Where I won't have to work at all
He doesn't have to work in that new place
No I wll not have to work there
He repeats that he doesn't have to work in that new place
Or never change my socks
He won't even have to change his socks
I'm a goin to that better place
He is going to a better place
Where everything is right
Everything is good in that new place
Where handouts grow on bushes
In that new place, food is readily available
And they sleep out every night
People sleep outside every night there
I won't have to wash my overhauls
He won't even have to wash his clothes
Or never change my socks
He repeats that he won't have to change his socks
Where the little stream of water
Again, he emphasizes the small stream of water he wants to get off at
Comes tumblin down the rocks
He wants to get off the train where that stream of water is falling down a rock
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: D. WATSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind