I'm a poor old railroad man,
Just an L. and N. section hand,
And the weight is slowly creeping on the way.
Now hard times is coming on,
And my last gold dollar is gone,
And this song is what I learned to sing and play.
Oftimes you see the path
Of a poor misfortune tramp.
He has no home and has no place to fill.
As you see him pass along,
And he sings his little song,
Please remember that the poor tramp has to live.
My health broke down out on the track
With heavy loads upon my back,
Now I have to make my way the best I can.
We never know when we are young
What may be our fatal doom,
These words is from a broke down section hand.
Oftimes you see the path
Of a poor misfortune tramp.
He has no home and has no place to fill.
As you see him pass along,
And he sings his little song,
Please remember that the poor tramp has to live.
Yes, my health is broken down,
As I tramp from town to town,
Sing and play, take whatever you may give.
While I try to play and sing,
Just divide your little change,
And remember that the poor tramp has to live.
Oftimes you see the path
Of a poor misfortune tramp.
He has no home and has no place to fill.
As you see him pass along,
And he sings his little song,
Please remember that the poor tramp has to live.
