[Verse 1]
I was young when I left home
And I been a-rambling 'round
And I never wrote a letter to my home
To my home, Lord
Lord, to my home
And I never wrote a letter to my home

[Verse 2]
It was just the other day
I was bringing home my pay
When I met an old friend I used to know
He said, "Your mother's dead and gone
Baby sister's all gone wrong
And your daddy needs you home right away"

[Verse 3]
Not a shirt on my back
Not a penny on my name
But I can't go home thisaway
Thisaway, Lord
Lord, this way
And I can't go home this way

[Verse 4]
If you miss the train I'm on
Count the days I'm gone
You would hear that whistle blow a hundred miles
Hundred miles, honey baby
Lord Lord Lord
And you'll hear that whistle blow a hundred miles
[Verse 5]
And I'm playing on the track
Ma would come and whoop my back
On them trussels down by old Jim McKay's
When I pay the debt I owe to the commissary store
I will pawn my watch and chain and go home
Go home
Lord Lord Lord
I will pawn my watch and chain and go home

[Verse 6]
Used to tell my Ma sometimes
When I see them riding blinds
Gonna make me a home out in the wind
In the wind, Lord
Lord, in the wind
I'm gonna make me a home out in the wind

[Verse 7]
I don't like it in the wind
Wanna go back home again
But I can't go home this way
Thisaway, Lord
Lord, this way
Oh, but I can't go home this way
[Verse 8]
I was young when I left home
And I've been all a-rambling 'round
And I never wrote a letter to my home
To my home
Lord Lord Lord
And I never wrote a letter to my home