Hard Travelin'
Woody Guthrie & Pete Seeger Lyrics
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I've been havin' some hard travelin', way down the road
I've been havin' some hard travelin', hard ramblin', hard gamblin'
Been havin' some hard travelin', Lord
I've been ridin' them fast rattlers, I thought you knowed
I've been ridin' them flat wheelers, way down the road
I've been ridin' them blind passengers, dead-enders, kickin' up cinders
I've been hittin' some hard-rock minin', I thought you knowed
I've been leanin' on a pressure drill, way down the road
Hammer flyin', air hole suckin', six foot of mud and I shore been a muckin'
And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', Lord
I've been hittin' some hard harvestin', I thought you knowed
North Dakota to Kansas City, way down the road
Cuttin' that wheat, stackin' that hay and I'm tryin' make 'bout a dollar a day
And I've been havin' some hard travelin', Lord
I've been working that Pittsburgh steel, I thought you knowed
I've been dumpin' that red-hot slag, way down the road
I've been blasting, I've been a firin', I've been pourin' red-hot iron
And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', Lord
I've been layin' in a hard-rock jail, I thought you knowed
I've been laying out 90 days, way down the road
Damned old judge, he said to me, "It's 90 days for vagrancy"
I've been hittin' some hard travelin', Lord
The lyrics of Woody Guthrie's song "Hard Travelin'" paint a picture of the hard, gritty life of a migrant worker during the Great Depression. It's a song about travel, but not the romanticized version of travel that we often see in popular culture. It's about the type of travel that is forced upon people who are trying to survive in a harsh, unforgiving world.
The song starts with the singer talking about how he's been "havin' some hard travelin'" and how he's been doing it "way down the road." He then goes on to describe the various modes of transportation he's used on his travels: from "fast rattlers" to "flat wheelers", and even "blind passengers." He's been "hard ramblin'" and "hard gamblin'", doing whatever it takes to get by.
The second verse talks about the hard physical labor the singer has endured, from "hard-rock minin'" to "harvestin'", and even "workin' that Pittsburgh steel." The work is tough and dangerous, as evidenced by the lyrics "six foot of mud" and "pourin' red-hot iron." The final verse talks about the consequences of the hard life of a migrant worker: the singer has spent time in jail for "vagrancy."
Line by Line Meaning
I've been havin' some hard travelin', I thought you knowed
I've been experiencing difficult journeys and I assumed you were already aware of it.
I've been havin' some hard travelin', way down the road
I've been enduring challenging travels for a long time now.
I've been havin' some hard travelin', hard ramblin', hard gamblin'
My travels have been characterized by rough wandering and risky behavior.
Been havin' some hard travelin', Lord
I've been facing hard travels and asking for divine help.
I've been ridin' them fast rattlers, I thought you knowed
I've been riding fast trains and assumed you knew about it.
I've been ridin' them flat wheelers, way down the road
I've also been riding poorly maintained trains for a while.
I've been ridin' them blind passengers, dead-enders, kickin' up cinders
I've been with passengers with nowhere to go or goals, causing trouble and scattering ashes.
I've been havin' some hard travelin', Lord
I am still facing difficult travels and still seeking divine support.
I've been hittin' some hard-rock minin', I thought you knowed
I've been mining rocks and assumed you were already informed.
I've been leanin' on a pressure drill, way down the road
I've been using intense pressure to drill, and it's been going on for a while.
Hammer flyin', air hole suckin', six foot of mud and I shore been muckin'
I've been working hard, hammering and drilling in a muddy six feet hole.
And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', Lord
Despite my mining work, my travels remain troublesome and I still need divine help.
I've been hittin' some hard harvestin', I thought you knowed
I've been doing difficult farm work and presumed you already knew it.
North Dakota to Kansas City, way down the road
I've been farming from North Dakota to Kansas City for a while.
Cuttin' that wheat, stackin' that hay and I'm tryin' make 'bout a dollar a day
I'm working hard to harvest wheat and hay, trying to earn at least a dollar a day.
And I've been havin' some hard travelin', Lord
Despite my hard work, my travels remain challenging and I continue seeking divine help.
I've been working that Pittsburgh steel, I thought you knowed
I've been working in Pittsburgh's steel industry and assumed you were already aware.
I've been dumpin' that red-hot slag, way down the road
I've been continuously dumping hot waste from steel production for a while.
I've been blasting, I've been a firin', I've been pourin' red-hot iron
I've been involved in intense and dangerous work of blasting, firing and pouring hot molten steel.
And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', Lord
Despite my industrial work, my travels are still not easy, and I'm still seeking divine support.
I've been layin' in a hard-rock jail, I thought you knowed
I've been in jail for hard-rock mining and presumed you already knew that.
I've been laying out 90 days, way down the road
I've been serving a 90-day sentence for some time now.
Damned old judge, he said to me, "It's 90 days for vagrancy"
The judge sentenced me for vagrancy and gave me 90 days in jail.
I've been hittin' some hard travelin', Lord
Even after jail time, my travels are still hard and I'm still asking for divine help.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: WOODY GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind