[Verse 1]
Sitting by a campfire eating old pork and beans
Waiting on an old slow freight heading south to New Orleans
They say it's warm and there's a hot of pretty Creole queens
So I'm leaving this poor north so cold and eating shrimp instead of beans

[Verse 2]
Just like old Frank sitting there by me the fire was dying 'neath the pot
And his hands so old tremble from the cold a scene I've never forgot
He said son go on home to your mama before you wind up like me
Hurting everyone else including yourself don't waste your life foolishly

[Verse 3]
I could see the tears filling his eyes as he handed me a picture faded bad
And as the angel of death took his last breath
There standing by me in the picture I could see old Frank and it was signed love dad