I was young when I left home
And I been out a-ramblin' round
And I never wrote a letter to my home
To my home, Lord, to my home
And I never wrote a letter to my home

He was just the other day, I was drinkin' on my pay
When I met an old friend I used to know
Said, "Your mother's dead and gone
Baby sister's all gone wrong
And your daddy needs you home right away''

Not a shirt on my back
Not a penny on my name
And I can't go home this a-way
This a-way, Lord, Lord, Lord
No, I can't go home this a-way

If you miss the train I'm on, count the days I'm gone
You will hear that whistle blow a hundred miles
Hundred miles, honey baby, Lord, Lord, Lord
You will hear that whistle blow a hundred miles

When I pay the debt I owe to the commissary store
I will pawn my watch and chain and go home
Go home, Lord, Lord, Lord
I will pawn my watch and chain and go home

Used to tell my ma sometimes
When I'd see 'em ridin' blind
Gonna make me a home out in the wind
In the wind, Lord, in the wind
Gonna make me a home out in the wind

I don't like it in the wind
Wanna go back home again
But I can't go home this a-way
This a-way, Lord, Lord, Lord
No, I can't go home this a-way

I was young when I left home
And I been out a-ramblin' round
And I never wrote a letter to my home
To my home, Lord, to my home
And I never wrote a letter to my home