When I first started hoboin'
'Boin', 'boin'
You know I took a freight train
To be my friend

Oh, when I first started hoboin'
I had a lonesome freight train
For my friend
I said I'm gonna hobo, hobo
Mmmm

You know what I hobo'd, hobo'd
I hobo'd a long way from my home
Don't you know that I hobo'd
I hobo'd a long way from my home

I said "well it's hard to be a hobo
Ah, while alone"
Mmmm

Yes you know my mama followed me down
In the still of the mornin'
Oh, just to show that she cared

You know my mama followed me down
In the still of the mornin'
Yeah, just to show that she cared

She said "you know that my child is a hobo
Ah-huh, in a well somewhere"
Mmmm