[Verse 1] There once lived a man he came from Mexico They called him poor hobo his name was Lonesome Joe He would ride the blinds, he'd ride the rods below The cinders from his freight scarred his face you know
[Verse 2] He knew every rail he knew every tie He knew every water tank that he passed by And everywhere he went they called him poor hobo He lived a lonesome life his name was Lonesome Joe
[Verse 3] He knew every house and he knew every door Where they would give a hand to a poor hobo He would tip his hat in the nicest way And then he'd bow real low in the most graceful way
[Verse 4] He'd eat a country ham and he'd enjoy the fat He'd take a hard boiled egg and put it in his hat He'd ask to mow your lawn in a tone of woe You know he'd never work this lonesome poor hobo
[Verse 5] His shoes were always worn sometimes they wouldn't match His hat was always flopped his clothes were always patched He had the finest watch on the finest chain He'd keep the closest time on the fastest train
[Verse 6] I've seen him catch a freight the best in the land I've seen him grab a train with a sandwich in his hand He saw all the world but never made no dough And died a happy man his name was Lonesome Joe