Rambler/Danville Girl: Lyrics

Arr & adpt Cisco Houston

• LP Legendary Cisco Houston
• LP 900 Miles
• LP Folk Song and Minstrelsy

Gambler

"Good morning Mister Railroad man.
What time do your trains roll by?"
"At nine-sixteen and two-forty-four
And twenty five minutes till five."

"It's nine-sixteen and two-forty-four,
Twenty-five minutes till five,
Thank you Mr. Railroad man,
I want to watch your trains roll by."

Standing on a platform,
Smoking a cheap cigar
Waiting for an old freight-train
That carries an empty car.

Well, I pulled my hat down over my eyes,
And I walked across the track,
And I caught me the end of an old freight-train,
And I never did come back.

I sat down in a gamblin' game,
And I could not play my hand,
Just thinkin' about that woman that I love
Run away with another man.

Run away with another man, poor boy
Run away with another man,
I was thinking about that woman that I love,
Run away with another man.

Danville Girl

"Good morning Mister Railroad Man.
What time do your trains roll by?"
"At nine-sixteen and two-forty-four
And twenty five minutes till five."

"It's nine-sixteen and two-forty-four,
Twenty-five minutes till five,
Well, thank you Mister Railroad Man,
I want to watch your trains roll by."

I was standing on a platform,
Smoking a cheap cigar
Just a-waiting for an old freight-train
That carries an empty car.

Well, I pulled my cap down over my eyes,
I walked across the track,
And I caught me the end of an long gray train,
And I never did come back.

I rode her down to Danville Town
Got stuck on a Danville girl
You bet your life she was the pearl
She wore the Danville curl

She wore her hat on the side of her head
Like high-toned people all do
And the very next train come that line
I bid that gal adieu

I sat down in a gamblin' game,
I could not play my hand,
I was thinkin' about that pretty little woman
Run away with another man.

Run away with another man, boys
Run away with another man,
I was thinking about that woman that I love,
Run away with another man.

"Good morning Mister Railroad Man.
What time do your trains roll by?"
"At nine-sixteen and two-forty-four
And twenty five minutes till five."

"It's nine-sixteen and two-forty-four,
Twenty-five minutes till five,
Well, thank you Mister Railroad Man,
I want to watch your trains roll by."

Of note:

A song recorded by many, including Jimmie Rodgers, in multiple versions, each one borrowing something from previous performances. Alan Lomax says: "There are stanzas in this one from so many different hobo songs, sung in so many different ways, that one might call this the master hobo song. Actually I had some hand in mixing the verses together in American Ballads and Folk Songs (Macmillan, 1934), from which this version comes."

Review:

This song appears on the early LP 900 Miles in the shorter version, then again on the Legendary Cisco Houston LP, in a version that showcases what Cisco learned in the previous 8 years. In 1952, his voice is thin and unconvincing. But by 1961, his voice is strong yet still plaintive, and the lyrics paint a much fuller canvas. After telling the story of a footloose man, he then repeats the first two verses, to reinforce the loss and disappointment. One of my favorites, for over 40 years.

Notes from the Folk Song & Minstrelsy Set

This ditty is also known as "Good Morning, Mr. Railroad Man". It is typical of the many songs of the hoboes who rode the rails back and forth across the country.

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