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ADD: The Wanderer's Warning

03 Nov 00 - 10:24 PM (#334194)
Subject: can anyone help
From: manx

hi i am trying to find the name of a song i think is from the second world war. my father still sings this song, at the age 83. he thinks he first heard it from an american airman he taught in the south of england. here are the first and last verses. thier are six verses in all. i am riding along on a frieght car. bound for nobody knows where. for i left home early this morning. and my heart it is heavy with care.

so lads,take this wanderer's warning. and don't break your poor mothers heart. stay by her side for she needs you. and let nothing tear you apart.

hope someone can help me. manx. mjliom@netcom.ca


04 Nov 00 - 09:18 AM (#334387)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WANDERER'S WARNING
From: Brakn

I found this on a previous thread posted by John Nolan.

Click here

I'm riding along on a freight train
Bound for God only knows where
I left my home just this morning
And my heart is heavy with care
I quarreled with my dear old father
Because of the things I had done
He called me a drunkard and a gambler
Not fit to be called his son


I know my old mother is weeping
Day after day while I'm gone
[Remember he'd only been gone hours]
Hoping and watching and praying
For a son who will never come home
So boys, heed a wanderer's warning
Don't break your poor mother's heart
Always stay near to the fireside
And let nothing tear you apart.


29 Sep 05 - 01:51 PM (#1572234)
Subject: Lyr Req: The Wanderer's Warning
From: GUEST,Arkie

Hopefully someone will have the words for this song. It was recorded by Frank Luther and Bud Billings (who was also Frank Luther) and possibly by Carson Robison while he was using the name Joe Billings. One reference I found said the song was popular in England in 1929. It is supposedly to be found in a Carson Robison song folio.

I had a request from someone who remembers his mother singing this song. I've exhausted my sources.


29 Sep 05 - 01:58 PM (#1572240)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WANDERER'S WARNING^^^
From: Peace

The Wanderer's Warning

I'm riding along on a freight train
Bound for God only knows where
I left my home just this morning
And my heart is heavy with care
I quarreled with my dear old father
Because of the things I had done
He called me a drunkard and a gambler
Not fit to be called his son

I know my old mother is weeping
Day after day while I'm gone
[Remember he'd only been gone hours]
Hoping and watching and praying
For a son who will never come home
So boys, heed a wanderer's warning
Don't break your poor mother's heart
Always stay near to the fireside
And let nothing tear you apart.

from this thread on the Mudcat^^^

www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=3772
Subject: RE: Songs about the homeless
From: Sir
Date: 20 Jan 98 - 04:47 PM
    Added to the DT 2005.
    -Joe Offer-


29 Sep 05 - 04:06 PM (#1572342)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wanderer's Warning
From: GUEST,Arkie

Thanks. I've spent a couple of hours searching for this. I even did a search of the DT and former threads. I guess I did not go far enough.


26 Jul 06 - 07:24 AM (#1793545)
Subject: Lyr Req: The Wanderers Warning
From: ard mhacha

My father played this song on our old gramaphone many years ago, the singer was Bud Billings, I am sure the reverse side had the same artist singing, `Will the angels play their harps for me`.

The wandereres warning began, `I am riding along on a freight train`, I would be grateful if anyone can oblige with the words.


26 Jul 06 - 02:22 PM (#1793830)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WANDERER'S WARNING
From: BB

THE WANDERER'S WARNING

I'm riding along on a freight train
Bound for God only knows where;
I only left home just this morning
And my heart it is heavy with care.

I quarreled with my dear father
Because of the things I had done;
He called me a drunkard, a gambler,
Not fit to be called his son

So I packed all my clothes in a bundle
And went to wish mother goodbye;
My poor mother broke down a-crying
Saying, Son, O my son, do not leave.

I know my old mother is weeping
Day after day while I'm gone,
Hoping and watching and praying
For a son who will never come home.

So, boys, heed a wanderer's warning;
Don't break you poor mother's heart;
Stay by her side for she needs you,
And let nothing tear you apart.


26 Jul 06 - 03:16 PM (#1793860)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wanderers Warning
From: Joe Offer

Where'd you find it, BB??
-Joe-


26 Jul 06 - 03:38 PM (#1793877)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wanderers Warning
From: Goose Gander

No lyrics, but from the Roud Index here are some recent recordings of the song that should be available . . . .

"Riding Along on a Free Train" Wiggy Smith (Gloucestershire, England – 1999) Musical Traditions MT CD 307 ('Band of Gold')

"Wanderer's Warning" Viv Legg (Cornwall, England – 2006?) Veteran VT153CD ('Romany Roots')

Roud 16143


26 Jul 06 - 03:45 PM (#1793882)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE BOY WHO COULD NEVER COME HOME
From: Goose Gander

From Arnold Keith Storm here's this . . . .



THE BOY WHO COULD NEVER COME HOME

'Keith learned this story of the prodigal son from the singing of his father. We have been unable to locate it in any of the standard reference works, although it is typical of the turn-of-the-century sentimental songs. Philip Wylie must have had in mind the social attitudes that produced the many songs of this type when he coined his now-famous term, "Momism".'

As I'm riding along on this freight train,
My dear mother's voice I can hear;
She's crying, "Oh, Son, do not leave me,
It's more than my poor heart can bear."

Oh, boys, here's a wanderer's warning:
Don't break your poor mother's heart;
Stay by her side when she needs you
And let nothing tear you apart.

I know she'll be waiting by the window
Day after day as I roam,
Watching and a-waiting and a-praying
For her boy who can never come home.

I'm riding along on this freight train,
Bound for God only knows where;
I hear Mother's voice, she is crying,
And my heart it is heavy with care.

I quarreled with my own father
Because of the things I had done;
He called me a drunkard and a gambler
And not fit to be his son.

I cursed and I swore at my father
And I told him his words were all lies;
I packed up my things in a bundle
And I went to tell Mother goodbye.


My poor mother broke down a-crying.
"My son, oh, my son, do not leave;
Your poor mother's heart will be broken
And all my life long I will grieve."

Oh, boys, here's a wanderer's warning:
Don't break your poor mother's heart;
Stay by her side when she needs you
And let nothing tear you apart.


26 Jul 06 - 04:10 PM (#1793899)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WANDERER'S WARNING
From: Peace

"From 1928 to 1931, Robison recorded with Frank Luther (b. Francis Luther Crow, August 4, 1905, Kansas, USA) as 'Bud And Joe Billings'. Among their releases were "Barnacle Bill The Sailor", "The Wanderer's Warning", and "Will The Angels Play Their Harps For Me?", both of which became popular in Britain during 1929."

from

nfo.net/cal/tr3.html

###############################################

19 Riding Along on a Free Train (Roud 16143) / Mother's the Queen of my Heart (Roud 16144) (both sung by Wiggy Smith)

(Recorded by Gwilym Davies and Paul Burgess at Wiggy's caravan, Elmstone Hardwicke, 18th November, 1999)

I curse and I swore at my father
And I told him his words was a lie
He called me a drunkard and a gambler
Not fit to be called his son.

So I packed all my clothes in a bundle
And I went to wish mother goodbye
My poor mother broke down a-crying
Saying, "Oh, my son, my son, do not leave."

Now I'm riding along in a free* train [* freight?]
And I'm bound for nobody knows where
I only left home just this morning
And my heart is heavy with care.

"Now, Son, here's a wanderer's warning
Don't break your poor mother's heart
Stay by her side, for she needs you
And all her life long she'll agree."

That is from

www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/smith.htm


26 Jul 06 - 05:12 PM (#1793960)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WANDERER'S WARNING
From: Goose Gander

From the CD Romany Roots by Viv Legg on Veteran . . . .


The Wanderer's Warning

I'm riding along on a freight train,
Bound for nobody knows where.
I ran off from home just this morning,
My heart was heavy with care.

I quarreled with my old father,
Because of the thing I had done.
He called me a drunkard and a gambler,
Not fit to be called his son.

I cursed and swore at my father,
And told him his words were a lie.
I packed all my things in a bundle,
And went to tell mother goodbye.

My poor mother broke down a-crying,
"Son, oh my son, don't leave -
Your poor mothers heart will be broken,
And all my life long, I will grieve."

She kissed me and called me her darling,
And around me her arms she did throw.
I'll never forget that sad parting,
As I said, "Mother dear, I must go."

As I ride along on this freight train,
My mother's voice I can hear,
Crying, "Oh son, don't leave me,
It's more than my poor heart can bear."

I know she'll be there by the window,
Day after day as I roam,
Watching and waiting and praying,
For her boy, who will never come home.

So boys, take this wanderer's warning,
And don't break your poor mother's heart.
Stay by her side - she will need you,
And let nothing take you apart.

"An American song recorded in 1929 by Carson Robison & Frank Luther (under the alias of Bud Billing) and in 1933 by Kenneth Houchins. Viv's version probably stems, indirectly, from the 'Bud Billing' version that was issued in England on both the Zonophone and Regal Zonophone labels (Zo 5422 and RZ 5422 respectively) and in Ireland on the Irish Regal Zonophone label (Iz322). Song transcribed by John Howson. Song notes: Mike Yates"


26 Jul 06 - 05:52 PM (#1793990)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wanderers Warning
From: BB

Quite a story as to where our words came from: An old boy, Freddie Stadden, in our village, Combe Martin in N. Devon, England used to sing it when we could persuade him to do so. When he died a couple of years ago, his daughter asked Tom Brown, my husband, to sing it at the funeral. Tom's reaction was that he didn't know the words well enough to sing them. We then did a bit of research and found out about the Wiggy Smith recording which we obtained very rapidly, thanks to Rod Stradling. That gave Tom enough to remind him of Freddie's words and tune, and he was able to give a reasonable account of himself at the funeral - I don't think he's ever been so nervous! I'm pretty sure (without looking it up) that Wiggy Smith's version was said to come from the singing of Jimmie Rogers.


26 Jul 06 - 06:00 PM (#1794001)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wanderers Warning
From: Goose Gander

Thanks for the story, BB!


26 Jul 06 - 06:06 PM (#1794007)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wanderers Warning
From: Sandy Paton

Thanks, Michael, for the reference to Arnold Keith Storm's Folk-Legacy recording of this classic. (CD-18)
    Sandy Paton (Folk-Legacy's resident folk fogey)


26 Jul 06 - 08:35 PM (#1794122)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wanderers Warning
From: Stewie

Russell's discography also cites a January 1933 recording by Kenneth Houchins in Richmond, IN, and an unissued June 1929 recording by Jake West in New York. The earliest recording seems to be by Carson Robison Trio, which had Luther as vocalist, in Jan/Feb 1929 in New York. Russell cites 8 March 1929 recording under the Bud Billings name - Luther,v, accompanied by Sam Freed, f, Phil Napoleon, c, and Carson Robison, g. A 9 April 1929 recording is labelled as by Frank Luther - acc by unknown fiddle and Carson Robison, harmonica/guitar.

Meade et alia discography has no entry for this song.

--Stewie.


27 Jul 06 - 07:26 AM (#1794420)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wanderers Warning
From: ard mhacha

A great response, I have in the meantime asked around and an old friend gave me the old 78rpm record, it is a Regal Zonophone record, sung by Bud Billings [Luther and Robinson], with novelty trio, T 5422, and on the reverse side, Will the Angels play their Harps for me. Sung by Bud Billings, [Hirsch and Wilhite].

The record is in reasonable condition, I have played it on an old 78 turntable. My friend dates the record to around the early 1930s.


25 Jan 09 - 02:19 PM (#2548881)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WANDERER'S WARNING
From: GUEST,foss

The Wanderer's Warning

I'm riding along on a freight train,
Bound for nobody knows where.
I ran off from home just this morning,
My heart was heavy with care.

I quarreled with my old father,
Because of the thing I had done.
He called me a drunkard and a gambler,
Not fit to be called his son.

I cursed and swore at my father,
And told him his words were a lie.
I packed all my things in a bundle,
And went to tell mother goodbye.

My poor mother broke down a-crying,
"Son, oh my son, don't leave -
Your poor mothers heart will be broken,
And all my life long, I will grieve."

She kissed me and called me her darling,
And around me her arms she did throw.
I'll never forget that sad parting,
As I said, "Mother dear, I must go."

As I ride along on this freight train,
My mother's voice I can hear,
Crying, "Oh son, don't leave me,
It's more than my poor heart can bear."

I know she'll be there by the window,
Day after day as I roam,
Watching and waiting and praying,
For her boy, who will never come home.

So boys, take this wanderer's warning,
And don't break your poor mother's heart.
Stay by her side - she will need you,
And let nothing take you apart.


21 Sep 09 - 10:47 AM (#2728033)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wanderers Warning
From: GUEST


18 Jun 10 - 07:10 PM (#2930824)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wanderer's Warning (2)
From: GUEST,elaine cottam

my dad from ireland sang this song to me as a child


17 Dec 10 - 06:10 PM (#3055930)
Subject: RE: ADD: The Wanderer's Warning
From: GUEST,mary

my dad past away on the 12 of nov 2010 miss him so much he use to sing the wanderers warning when i was a kid use to cry when he sang it but ask him every night to sing it love to hear someone singing it now rip dad


18 Dec 10 - 06:05 PM (#3056734)
Subject: RE: ADD: The Wanderer's Warning
From: Art Thieme

a fine thread, this.


28 Dec 10 - 12:02 PM (#3062599)
Subject: RE: ADD: The Wanderer's Warning
From: GUEST, dave

i wish i could find that song its so neer to my heart


22 Jun 11 - 11:47 AM (#3174570)
Subject: RE: ADD: The Wanderer's Warning
From: GUEST,Keith

I also remember crying to this as a young child when my parent's sang it to me (they seemed to take great delight in the fact!).

Don't think I ever heard the original, so I've been looking for it for years.

I've just found a fairly short, unaccompanied section at the following site - but more modern I suspect.

http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=025M-C1012X0009XX-1100V0.xml


15 Aug 12 - 10:57 AM (#3390470)
Subject: RE: ADD: The Wanderer's Warning
From: GUEST,Norman.

Thank you.... i have been searching for the lyrics for years!! i first heard this about 50+ years ago. My friends dad used to sing it after a few ciders!!!


13 Jun 14 - 03:01 PM (#3632760)
Subject: RE: ADD: The Wanderer's Warning
From: GUEST,Eric

It sounds like I have a similar story to many others. My dad sang it to me from an early age and I used to burst into tears. As I got more sisters and brothers he stopped but every now and again he would start to sing it and off I would go again. The last time was just before I went off to college at 18 - very embarassing. I was thinking about it as I fell asleep around 7 years ago and I thought I have to look this up on the net so I got up and started to search the first line. It took ages but I eventually found Arnold Keith Storm's album and it had some mp3 samples so I could check if it was the right song. Five minutes later my wife shouted down 'what are you doing up and why are you crying' - childhood memories are pretty firmly embedded eh!