[Chorus]
And how have you been, my darling children
While I have been away in the west?
Though you are strangers, I feel like I know you
By the way that you treat me and offer to feed me
And eagerly ask if I'll stay for a rest

[Verse 1]
And sit yourselves down in a pile here before me
I wish I had presents for each of your smiles
But I have been traveling with not much to carry
Just a broken guitar case with tape on the sides
To hold up a few signs to help me get rides

[Verse 2]
And here is a strange European guitar string
I found on the floor of a club in Marseilles
It's fat for the third string and skinny for the fourth string
But I kept it in hopes I might need it someday
It's funny how people just keep things that way

[Verse 3]
And here is a turtle from the Long Island Expressway
He says that his home has been covered with tar
So I gave him a ride on the back of my suitcase
And he says that he wants to live here in your yard
At long last, his short life won't be quite so hard
[Chorus]
And how have you been, my darling children
While I have been away in the west?
Though you are strangers I feel like I know you
By the way that you treat me and offer to feed me
And eagerly ask if I'll stay for a rest

[Outro]
And how have you been, my darling children?