You can hear this recording at The Internet Archive. Here's my transcription:


TRAVELING MAN
As recorded by Coley Jones, Dec. 3, 1927, Columbia 14288D.

1. Tell ya a story 'bout a trav'lin' man that 'uz born down in Tennessee.
He made his livin' by stealin' chickens. Stoled ever'thing that he'd see.
Police got after that coon one day an' he tore off right down the road.
No matter how fast a freight train was flyin', that coon 'ould get right on boa'd.

CHORUS: He was a trav'lin' man, cert'nly was a trav'lin' man.
Trav'lin'est coon that ever was in the land.
Travel, he was known for miles around.
He wouldn't give up, he never give up till the pólice shot 'im down.

2. That coon stole ten thousand dollars. It was in the broad open-day time.
The folks said the man was desp'rate, for doin' such a dirty crime.
The pólice squad had(?) arrested, an' he didn't have no fear.
They tied the handcuffs around the darky's arms, an' the coon begin to disappear.

3. Sentenced this coon now to be hung. He knowed his time was near.
Folks all ganged up from miles around, because he didn't have no fear.
Tied the rope round this darky's neck. Ever'body began to sigh.
He crossed his legs, winked one eye, sailed up th'ough them skies.

4. Now they sent this coon to Liverpool, England, now, to swim that ocean blue.
He saw the iceberg ten thousand miles away. Right over both he flew.
Now the people on the Titanic they all said, "Well, that coon is a mighty big fool."
When the Titanic went down in that big blue sea, he was shootin' dice out in Liverpool.