The song also turns up in the book Woody Guthrie Folk Songs (1963, Ludlow Music Inc.) as "Rambolin' Railroad Hobo." Looking at the music (p. 173), the melody seems slightly different; it says, "Words and New Music Adaptation by Woody Guthrie." Danville is now Pittsville. My guess is that he retooled the song in the early 1950's.


Rambolin' Railroad Hobo

I took a walk down to the railroad yard
To see the trains go by;
I knew the trains would run this day,
But I did not know what time;

Good morning, mister railroad man,
What time does your train go by?
At nine sixteen, at two forty-four,
And twenty-five minutes till five.

It's nine sixteen, and two forty-four,
And twenty-five minutes till five?
I thank you, mister railroad man;
I want to watch your trains roll by.

I'm a-standin' on this rotten platform,
I'm a-smokin' a snipe cigar;
I'm peelin' my eye for a steam up job
That's draggin' an empty car.

I pull my capbill o'er my eyes,
I'm walkin' across this track,
I'm swingin' the rusty ladder, hey,
And I never will glance back.

I'm huggin' her down 'round Pittsville town
To kiss my Pittsville girl,
You can bet your chips her name is Pearl,
She wears that Pittsville curl;

I'll buy her a hat she can tie on her head
Like the big-shot rich folks do;
And the very next freight rolls down this rail,
I'll kiss my little girl adieu.

I'm a-shufflin' up to this railroad bull
To shoot him a line of gab;
If you cross my palm with a two-bit piece
I'll find you a spot to ride;

I'm not packin' a nickel, man,
Not a copper can I show;
He booted me off like a stockyard cow,
And he slammed his boxcar door.

He kicked me off on them upperflat plains
Where the wild wind takes my breath,
Where blizzards are born in a bed on the ground,
Where the 'boes go to freeze to death.

I'll walk a few miles 'gainst a stormy snow,
And I'll dream of my Pittsville girl;
My red-hot dreams will melt your snows
And flood all around this world.