I'm a travelling man a-moving You name it I've been there And night and day I strive to sell my wares Got nothing I can show you Nothing you can wear But hang around a while and lend an ear While travellin' on a freight-train On the Rocky Island line My young love said to me My mother she don't mind And through twelve gates of the city I came into my prime I was singing songs of wild mountain thyme
Sing little birdie From the greenwood side-o Where the trees they do grow high Come say hello Summer is a-coming And I'm standing on the shore And where I'm bound Oh Lord I can't be sure From the Arizona dustbowl Out to Van Diemons land To the North-West Passage snowbound Where Lord Franklin made his stand While high above I'm flying With my guitar in my hand Thinking about one tiny grain of sand
If anyone should ask me If I be a rambling boy The sporting life I know I have enjoyed Met a lady from Louisville A-pleasing to my mind She took my hand and said Would you please be kind And from the foggy dew I stumbled Into a shady grove Where the redbird sang his sweet song He sang of careless love And the bells of Rhymney rang out And brought the people round Saying welcome to your friendly travelling man Welcome to your friendly travelling man