(Traditional, adapted by Ry Cooder) Come and gather all around me Listen to my tale of woe Got some good advice to give you Lots of things you oughta know Take a tip from one who's travelled And never stopped a-ramblin' 'round 'Cause once you get the roamin' fever You never want to settle down, boy You never want to settle down I met a little gal in Frisco And I 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' And I knew it was the Red Ball Train And I left that gal beside the railroad And I never saw the gal again, boy I never saw the gal again Saw the gal again I never saw the gal again Left that gal beside the railroad And I never saw the gal again Travelled all over the country I've travelled everywhere I been on every Branch Line railroad And I never paid a nickel fare I been from Maine to Califor'ny And from Canada to Mexico I never tried to save no money And now I got no place to bo, boy Now I got no place to go Listen to a Boomer's story Pay attention to what I say Well, I hear another train a-comin' Guess I'll be on my way If you wanna do me a favor When I lay me down and die Just dig my grave beside the railroad So I can hear the trains go by, boys So I can hear the trains go by Hear the trains go Hear the trains go by Just dig my grave beside the railroad So I can hear the trains go by