Just Passing Through

I’m a hobo rolling out in a box car
on a train bound for nowhere
points unknown
“round here we don't like your kind
'cause you ain't worth a dime,”
said the sheriff
when he run me out of town

I was born in Tupelo Mississippi
the old man got sent away when I was nine
now poor mama she did her best
but I lit out like all the rest
and I’ve been running on these rails
most of my life

I’m just passing through
I’m a drifting memory on the move
and you won’t think about me when I’m gone
so put your dollar in the jar
and I'll play this old guitar
I’ll sing you songs of what I’ve seen
just passing through

I loved a woman once she was kind and gentle
and I did my level best to tow the line
but my line it ain't that straight
and she couldn’t keep the faith
so she left me for a sober man in Mobile

Then I drifted north of the stockyards in Chicago
and took whatever work there I could find
but slavin' for the man was never in the plan
so I hopped a freight on down to Galveston

I’m just passing through
I’m a drifting memory on the move
and you won't think about me when I’m gone
so put your dollar in the jar
and I’ll play this old guitar
I’ll sing you songs of what I’ve seen
songs of what I’ve seen
I’ll sing you songs of what I’ve seen
just passing through

I’ve watched the Rio Grande flow to the ocean
I walked the canyon lands in the dead of night
I’ve heard the coyote's lonesome cry
and I’ve watched eagles fly
in the majesty of the great divide

I’m just passing through
I’m a drifting memory on the move
and you won’t think about me when I’m gone
so put your dollar in the jar
and I’ll play this old guitar
I’ll sing you songs of what I’ve seen
songs of what I’ve seen
I’ll sing you songs of what I’ve seen
just passing through