The Songs He Sang
Hobo Bill: Lyrics
As performed by Cisco Houston
Waldo O'Neal (1929)
Appears on:- LP 900 Miles and other Railroad Songs
- CD The Folkways Years
- CD American Folksay: Ballads & Dances, Volumes 5 & 6; Chain Gang Volumes 1 & 2
Riding on an eastbound freight train, speeding through the night, Hobo Bill, the railroad bum, was a-fighting for his life. As the train sped through the darkness, with raging storm outside, Hobo Bill, the railroad bum, was taking his last ride. The sadness of his eyes revealed the torture of his soul, As he raised a weak and weary hand to brush away the cold. Outside the rain was a-pouring on that lonely boxcar door, And the little form of Hobo Bill lay still upon the floor. He heard the whistle blowing in a dreamy sort of way, The hobo seemed contented, for he smiled there where he lay. It was early in the morning when they raised the hobo's head, And the smile still lingered on his face, but Hobo Bill was dead. There was no mother's longing to think of his weary soul, He was nothing but a railroad bum who died out in the cold.
Longer version on the Folksay CD:
Yodels.... Riding on an eastbound freight train, speeding through the night, Hobo Bill, the railroad bum, was fighting for his life. The sadness of his eyes revealed the torture of his soul, As he raised a weak and weary hand to brush away the cold. Oh-oh, boh-boh, Billy As the train sped through the darkness, with that raging storm outside, Hobo Bill, the railroad bum, was taking his last ride. No warm light flickered around him, no blanket to fold. Nothing but the howling wind and the driving rain so cold. Oh-oh, boh-boh, Billy Yodels... Well he heard the whistle blowing in a dreamy sort of way, The hobo seemed contented, for he smiled there where he lay. Outside the rain was a-pouring on that lonely boxcar door, And the little form of Hobo Bill lay still upon the floor. Oh-oh, boh-boh, Billy Yodels... As the train sped through the darkness, with that raging storm outside, No one knew that Hobo Bill was taking his last ride. Oh-oh, boh-boh, Billy He heard the whistle blowing in a dreamy sort of way, The smile lingered o'er his face but Hobo passed away. Yodels It was early in the morning when they raised the hobo's head, The smile still lingered on his face, but Hobo Bill was dead. There was no mother's longing to think of his weary soul, He was nothing but a railroad bum who died out in the cold. Oh-oh, boh-boh, Billy Yodels
Of note:
Written specifically for Jimmie Rodgers & first recorded by him November 13, 1929.
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