Boomer's Story

(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