Travellin' Man
Tales of a Wandering Soul
Lyrics
Now, folks let me tell you about a feller I know
The singer introduces a person they know and are about to tell a story about.
His home is down in Tennessee
The person's home is in Tennessee.
He made his living stealin' chickens
He earned a living by stealing chickens and other items.
And everything else he could see
He stole whatever he could see.
And one day the sheriff got behind 'ol Joes
The sheriff pursued him, prompting him to hit the road.
And he made him take to the road
He had to flee and start traveling due to the sheriff's pursuit.
Ain't never been a passenger train
Expresses the speed at which the man had to travel.
That ran so fast that man couldn't get on board
Emphasizes the urgency and speed at which the man had to escape.
Travelin' man
Repeated chorus emphasizing his wandering lifestyle, refusal to settle down, and recognition in various towns.
Lord, he must have been a travelin' man
-Travelin' ramblin' man
-He was the swiftest in the land
-Gamblin' ramblin' Joe
-They know'd him in every town
-He wouldn't stay put
-No, he won't give up
-And I'll bet he never settled down
-They sent that fella to the spring one day
Tells a story of the man's resourcefulness in fulfilling a task despite stumbling.
For to fetch a pail of water
-The distance from the spring to the house
-It was sixteen miles and a quarter
-He got that bucket of water alright
-But stubbed his toe and fell down
-He run to the house and he grabbed another bucket
-Caught the water 'fore it hit the ground
-Travelin' man
Repeated chorus emphasizing his wandering lifestyle, refusal to settle down, and recognition in various towns.
Yes, he must have been a travelin' man
-Travelin' ramblin' man
-He was the swiftest in the land
-Gamblin' ramblin' Joe
-They know'd him in every town
-He wouldn't stay put
-No, he won't give up
-And I'll bet he never settled down
-Well, he hoboed the great Titanic
Narrates a humorous incident where the man, on a ship, remains carefree despite danger, choosing to gamble rather than worry about the sinking ship.
Thought he'd try out the ocean blue
-But when he seen that ol' iceberg a comin'
-Right over that boat Joe flew
-The rest of them passengers hollered and laughed
-Said, "look at what a great big fool"
-But while that old boat was a sinking
-Joe was shootin' crap in Liverpool
-Travelin' man, I say
Repeated chorus emphasizing his wandering lifestyle, refusal to settle down, and recognition in various towns.
He must have been a travelin' man
-Travelin' ramblin' man
-He was the swiftest in this land
-Gamblin' ramblin' Joe
-They know'd him in every town
-He wouldn't stay put
-No, he won't give up
-And I bet he never settled down
-Well, the police finally caught up to poor ol' Joe
Describes the man's arrest and imminent hanging, but he faces it with humor, ultimately escaping mysteriously or metaphorically.
And then they sentenced him to hang one day
-The solemn ol' judge looked at Joe and says
-"Have you got anything to say?"
-He smiled at the judge and the jury
-He says, "bow down your head in prayer"
-Crossed up his legs and then he winked one eye
-And went sailing off through the air, ha ha
-Travelin' man, ain't that fate
Repeated chorus emphasizing his wandering lifestyle, refusal to settle down, and recognition in various towns.
He must have been a travelin' man
-Travelin' ramblin' man
-He was the swiftest in this land
-Gamblin' ramblin' Joe
-They know'd him in every town
-He wouldn't stay put
-No, he won't give up
-And I'll bet he never settled down
-
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