Lyrics:

1969


The hobo was the subject of the late and great Jimmie Rogers sang
of many times during his great career. And the freight train served
a greatful means of travel for the migrant worker or for the fello out
of work, or some ol boy that just wanted to live off of the fat of
our great land. And of course at this time, the fat was kinda scarce
because during the period of Jimmie Rogers greatest popularity, our
great nation's economy was at an all time low, and it was known as
the depression days.

During this time, it wasn't unusual to see fifty or seventy-five hobos
jump from a moving freight train as it neared the edge of a city.
This was dangerous, but it was done to keep from being caught by
the train bulls that worked the great freight yards during this era.

A lot of the hobos were respectable men and rode the rods because
it provided a dependable means of travel which they could afford.
Some of them made their destinations and some of them died along
the tracks and their friends and family never knew what happened
to'em. And I would imagine that Hobo Bill was one of them.