Great roundup of a great song, Joe, thanks!

It's worth noting that all the versions of this song I know are in 3/4, waltz time, except one: Bill Baker's Arkansas version is in a brisk 4/4. Similar tune and words, but a very different effect, which, startlingly enough, works fine.

Here are two further versions, Burnett (way early, taken from his 1913 songbook), and Dock Boggs.

RAMBLIN' RECKLESS HOBO

In Kentuckian songster, banjo picker and fiddler Dick Burnett's 1913 songbook. Burnett said he "got it from somebody who had been out west." (Facsimile printed in notes to Burnett & Rutherford Rounder LP A Ramblin' Reckless Hobo. ) The Burnett & Rutherford, Columbia 15240-D, November 3, 1927 was sung by Rutherford, however, not Burnett.

A ramblin' reckless hobo left his happy home,
Started on a western trip, by himself alone,
He said, upon this western trip I guess I'll have some fun,
Standing at a station house this is the song he sung.

Standing on a platform smoking a cheap cigar,
Waiting for a freight train to catch an empty car,
Thinking of those good old times, wishing they'd come again,
I'm a thousand miles away from home, bumming a railroad train.

Kind miss, kind miss, won't you give me a bite to eat,
A little piece of cold corn bread, a little piece of meat?
She threw her arms around me, say, I'll love you as a friend,
But if I give to you this time, you'll be bumming around again.

Kind miss, kind miss, don't talk to me so rough,
You think I am a hobo because I look so tough,
She took me in her kitchen, she treated me nice and kind,
She put me in the notion of bumming all the time.

When I left her kitchen I went strolling down in town,
I heard a double header blow, I thought it was western bound,
I walked out to the railroad, out to the railroad shop,
I heard the agent tell a man, the freight train would not stop.

My heart began to rove around, and I began to sing,
If that freight train goes through this town, I'll catch it on the wing,
I pulled my cap down over my eyes, and walked out to the track,
And caught the stirrup of (an) empty car, and never did look back.

I got off in Danville, got stuck on a Danville girl,
You bet your life she's out of sight, she wears the Danville curl,
She wears her hair on the back of her head, like high toned people do,
But if a west-bound train pulls out tonight I'll bid that girl adieu.

Now I am in your city, boys, trying to do what's right,
Don't think because I am a railroad boy that I am not all right,
My pocketbook is empty, my heart is filled with pain,
Ten thousand miles away from home, bumming a railroad train.


DANVILLE GIRL

Dock Boggs, Brunswick 132, 1927.

I went down to Danville, got stuck on a Danville girl,
Oh, you bet your life she's out of sight, she wears those Danville curls,
She wears her hair on the back of her head like all high-toned people do,
The very first train that leaves this town, going to bid that girl adieu.

I don't see why I love that girl, for she never cared for me,
But still my mind is on that girl, wherever she may be,
It's forty mile through the rock, it's sixty through the sand,
Oh I relate to you the life of a many poor married man.

Oh, standing by the railroad track, a-smoking very cheap cigar,
A-waiting for a local, to catch an empty car,
I don't see why I love that girl, for she never cared for me,
But still my mind is on that girl wherever she may be.

Look up, look down this lonesome road,
Hang down your head and cry,
The best of friends have to part sometimes.
And why can't you and I.