Boomer's S

(traditional, adapted by ry cooder)

Come and gather all around me
Listen to my tale of woe
Got some good advice to give you
Lots of things you oughta know
Take a tip from one who's travelled
And never stopped a-ramblin' 'round
'cause once you get the roamin' fever
You never want to settle down, boy
You never want to settle down

I met a little gal in frisco
And i asked her to be my wife
Told her i was tired of roamin'
Goin' to settle down for life
Then i heard the whistle blowin'
And i knew it was the red ball train
And i left that gal beside the railroad
And i never saw the gal again, boy
I never saw the gal again
Saw the gal again
I never saw the gal again
Left that gal beside the railroad
And i never saw the gal again

Travelled all over the country
I've travelled everywhere
I been on every branch line railroad
And i never paid a nickel fare
I been from maine to califor'ny
And from canada to mexico
I never tried to save no money
And now i got no place to bo, boy
Now i got no place to go

Listen to a boomer's story
Pay attention to what i say
Well, i hear another train a-comin'
Guess i'll be on my way
If you wanna do me a favor
When i lay me down and die
Just dig my grave beside the railroad
So i can hear the trains go by, boys
So i can hear the trains go by
Hear the trains go
Hear the trains go by
Just dig my grave beside the railroad
So i can hear the trains go by

(sleepy john estes)

Late one friday evening everybody was sad
We lost the best president we ever had
But he's gone home, gone back home
He's staying away too long

Rode from town to town holdin' up for our rights
Some low down rascal took the president's life
But he's gone home, gone back home
He's staying away too long

Mrs. kennedy got a mansion on the island, stayed 9 months, all she'd be
She have another mansion, soon as she reach washington, d.c.
But he's gone home, gone back home
He's staying away too long

Everybody votes, they don't know what's goin' on
If goldwater get it, we won't have no home
But he's gone home, gone back home
He's staying away too long

While horses and cars all in a row
I think mr. kennedy have a right to this long white robe
But he's gone home, gone back home
He's staying away too long

(traditional)

Yes, we'll rally 'round the flag, boys
We'll rally 'round again
Shouting the battle cry of freedom
We will rally from the hillside
We'll gather from the plain
Shouting the battle cry of freedom

The union forever, hurrah boys, hurrah
Down with the traitor, up with the star
While we rally 'round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the battle cry of freedom

We will welcome to our numbers
The loyal, true and brave
Shouting the battle cry of freedom
And although he may be poor
Not a man shall be a slave
Shouting the battle cry of freedom

So we're springing to the call
From the east and from the west
Shouting the battle cry of freedom
And we'll prove a loyal crew
To the land we love the best
Shouting the battle cry of freedom

(instrumental)

(traditional)

Good morning, mr. railroad man
What time do your trains roll by ?
"at 9:16 and 2:44 and 25 minutes 'till 5"
"at 9:16 and 2:44 and 25 minutes 'till 5"
Thank you, mr. railroad man
I want to watch your trains go by

Standing on a platform, smoking a cheap cigar
And waiting for an old freight train that carries an empty car
Well, i pulled my hat down over my eyes
And i walked across the tracks
And i caught me the end of an old freight train
And i never did come back

Well, i sat down in a gamblin' game
But i could not play my hand
I was thinkin' about the woman i loved
Run away with another man, poor boy
Run away with another man
I was thinking about the woman that i loved
Run away with another man