Along with House of the Rising Sun, Wandering was one of the first songs I learned that had more than three chords. I heard recordings of both songs by Josh White, and possibly others, before 1960, but it wasn't until I heard Dave Van Ronk sing them around 1964 that I understood how beautifully powerful each could be.

Here are the lyrics I've developed over more than 40 years.

I've been wandering early, and I've been wandering late,
I've been to New York City and I've seen the Golden Gate,
And it looks like,
I'm never going to cease,
My wan-der-ing.

Now I've worked in a diner, for the nickels and the dimes,
And still I keep on waiting for the better times,
And it looks like,
I'm never going to cease,
My wan-der-ing.

And I've worked in a factory, on the sweat shop floor,
Some good looking low life, he used me for his whore,
And it looks like,
I'm never going to cease,
My wan-der-ing.

There are snakes in the desert, eels in the sea,
Some good looking low life made a fool out of me,
And it looks like,
I'm never going to cease,
My wan-der-ing.

Now, if I killed that bastard, I might get ninety-nine,
I'm telling you, sisters, he just ain't worth the time,
And it looks like,
I'm never going to cease,
My wan-der-ing.