RAMBLIN' AFTER RAIN
(Pat DeSimio)

Brightly in the early mornin'
When the golden day is dawnin'
And the birds are callin' -
Tweet-a-cheep, coo, kaw! -
I waken from my muddy bed
To crocuses around my head, oh,
And I leave my toeprints
Right among them a'.

And who am I? Doora-lai-dum, da-dum
Who are you? Doora-lai-dum day.
Thentanai ah thentanadum
Tooralai a' ramblin' after rain.

With me pack upon me back
I wander by the rabbit tracks;
The creatures have a canny knack
To find their way.
The leaves around are wet, and glistening;
As I pass, they each'll kiss me -
Half a thousand sweethearts
Will be mine this day.

An' who am I? Doora-lai-dum, da-dum
Who are you? Doora-lai-dum day.
Thentanai ah thentanadum
Tooralai a' ramblin' after rain.

Now, I've a hearth and I've a home -
It looks much like the world, though,
And all the world in it roams
And roams at will.
Guests'll come, and guests'll go
And some build houses out o' stone
And close out plenty more o' life
Beside the chill.

An' who am I? Doora-lai-dum, da-dum
Who are you? Doora-lai-dum day.
Thentanai ah thentanadum
Tooralai a' ramblin' after rain.

Fare thee well, my friend and brother -
Bless you, and your pleasant chains.
Me, I chose a wilder lover
And I go a'ramblin' after rain.

An' who am I? Doora-lai-dum, da-dum
Who are you? Doora-lai-dum day.
Thentanai ah thentanadum
Tooralai a' ramblin' after rain.

Here's a less socially-conscious (but markedly cheerier) piece in the tradition of "Beggarman".

PD