I tol' some friends you came from Gary 'Tho your home was Naptown Last time I saw you was in New York City Leavin' on a Greyhound - homeward bound I gave you what I had in my pocket Enough for candy bars an' beer Didn't I wave goodbye with a low-down feelin' Still, I held back the tears I started thinkin' 'bout you up in Milwaukee It was rainin' when we reached Chicago But the tears didn't start rollin' down my cheeks 'Til we rolled into Kokomo - Kokomo No one I know who ever met you Could resist the way you sang an' played None of us will ever forget you We all just wish you'd've stayed To share the music you made Ya tol' me you was gonna stop smokin' cigarettes An' buy a good-lookin' car Ya used to sing about your dreams comin' true We thought you'd go so far I started thinkin' 'bout you up in Milwaukee It was rainin' when we reached Chicago But the tears didn't start rollin' down my cheeks 'Til we rolled into Kokomo - Kokomo First time you came overseas You was only seventeen Playin' the blues in Yank Rachell's band You was happy to be heard and seen - Hungry and lean Next time around you was on your own Makin' a name for yourself Now all that's left is the love in our hearts An' some reel-to-reel tapes on my shelf I started thinkin' 'bout you up in Milwaukee It was rainin' when we reached Chicago But the tears didn't start rollin' down my cheeks 'Til we rolled into Kokomo - Kokomo