THE HOBO'S LAST LETTER
(Bill Hicks)

While walkin' one day down the Bowery
Drinkin' without any care
I happened upon a common old bum
Who'd fallen down three flights of stairs
His coat was all ragged and tattered
The hair was white on his head
He gave me a letter with his dyin' breath
And these were the words that it said

I was standin' on a streetcar back in Frisco
Waitin' for the light to change from red to green
When a thought came to my head
About the time we went to bed
Underneath the western stars of Abilene
You know a lot of things get hazy when you wander
Days go by like boxcars in the night
But some day I know I'll find
Just a little peace of mind
And when I do, I'll find you to make it right

Chorus:
I'll be home in the mornin'
When the sun is comin' up
And the rooster's singin' wake up
To a thousand buttercups
There'll be pigs in the pen
And turkeys in the wood
I'll be home in the mornin' dear for good

It's many years ago that the bus rolled out for Denver
We were standin' in the station holdin' hands
Then we finally said goodbye
And I stood and watched you cry
Any I asked myself how you could understand
You know, I've been a lot of places since that Sunday
And some things I've done just don't mean a thing
But one thing I know is true
Lord, I'll get back home to you
This old bird can't live forever on the wing

Chorus

Well, I folded up the letter I was reading
'Cos some things are just too personal to tell
And I gave it to a cop
Who was standin' at the top
Of the stairs where that poor old fella fell
He hadn't had the time to put her name upon it
And his hand it shook so bad his name was blurred
But it looked a lot like mine
So I'm callin' you this time
To say I'll be home in the mornin' dear for good

Chorus

Source: transcription from The Red Clay Ramblers 'Twisted Laurel' Flying Fish LP 030 [1976]

--Stewie.