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

Met a little gal in Frisco
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'
Knew it was the Red Ball Train
Left that gal beside the railroad
Never saw the gal again, boy
Never saw the gal again

Saw that girl again
Never saw that girl again
Left that girl beside the railroad
And never saw that girl again

Travelled all over this country
I travelled everywhere
Been on every Branch Line railroad
Never paid a nickel fare
Been from Maine to Califor'ny
From Canada to Mexico
I never save no money
Now I got no place to go, boy
Now I got no place to go
So listen to the Boomer's story
Pay attention to what I say
Hear another train a-comin'
Guess I'll be on my way
If you want to do me a favor
When I lay me down and die
Just bury my bones beside the railroad
So I can hear the trains go by, boy
So I can hear the trains go by

Hear the trains go
I can hear the trains go by
Bury my bones be side the railroad
So I can hear the trains go by