I learned it from Sam Hinton, donkey's years ago. I'm sure Utah didn't write it, but he's well-qualified to sing it! I heard "It ain't because I'm lazy" (rather than iddn't). The fifth line, as I heard it, was "I could eat from dishes, it's only a matter of choice." My tenors could easily "sing" high C, rather than strike it. And the lilting refrain I heard was "deedle-dee dum dee deedle-dee di-de-doe, deedle-dee dum dee day." Trivia, to be sure. I used to sing this for my old father, who always wondered why I failed to follow him into civil engineering.

Sam Hinton could sure help us out on the writer of this. I think Abby could invite him to investigate this thread. You want to ask him, Abby, or shall I do it? Sounds a bit like a Carson Robison product, doesn't it? Will someone remind me to sing this one at NEFFA?

Sandy

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Thread #43566   Message #639857

Posted By: Sandy Paton

01-Feb-02 - 02:39 AM

Thread Name: ADD: Haywire Mac Songs

Subject: Lyr Add: YOU WONDER WHY I'M A HOBO

YOU WONDER WHY I'M A HOBO

You wonder why I'm a hobo, and why I sleep in a ditch.
It ain't because I'm lazy, nope, I just don't want to be rich.
I could eat from dishes; it's only a matter of choice.
But when I eat from an old tin can, there ain't no dishes to wash.

Diddiley-dum dee-diddley di-de-do,
Diddley-dum dee-day.

Well, I could be a banker, if ever I wanted to be,
But the very thought of an iron cage is too suggestive to me.
And I could be an accountant, and always balance my books,
But readin' figures ruins the eyes and glasses spoil my looks.

I could be a conductor and never have a wreck,
But any kind of a railroad man to me is a pain in the neck.
And I could ride in a Pullman, but there it is again!
The plush they put on those Pullman seats
Tickles my sensitive skin.

I could be a doctor; my duty I'd never shirk.
But if I doctored a railroad bull, he'd never go back to work!
And I could be a broker, without the slightest excuse,
But look at 1929, and tell me what's the use?

I could be a soldier, and hold my rifle steady,
But why should I go volunteer? They'll draft me when they're ready.
You wonder why I'm a hobo, and why I sleep in a ditch;
It ain't because I'm lazy, nope, I just don't want to be rich.

Haywire Mac might have recorded it, but I'm pretty sure it's a Carson Robison song.

Sandy