Well, I left New York in nineteen forty-nine To go across the country, without a dad-blame dime(1) Montana in the cold cold fall I found my father in a gamblin' hall
Father, father, where have you been? I've been out in the world since I was only ten Father, father, where have you been? I've been out in the world since I was only ten
Don't worry about me, about to die of pleurisy Cross the Mississippi, cross the Tennessee Cross the Niagara, home I'll never be Home in ol' Medora, home in ol' Truckee(2) Apalachicola, home I'll never be
For better or for worse, or thick and thin I've been married to the little woman God he loves me, like I love him I want you to do just the same for him Well, the worms eat away But don't worry, watch the wind
So I left Montana on an old freight train The night my father died in the cold cold rain Rode to Opelousas, rode to Wounded Knee Rode to Ogallala, home I'll never be Rode to Oklahoma, rode to El Cajon(3) Rode to old Tehatchapi(4), rode to San Antone
Hey! Hey!
Rode to Opelousas, rode to Wounded Knee Rode to Ogallala, home I'll never be Rode to Oklahoma, rode to El Cajon Rode to old Tehatchapi, rode to San Antone
Home I'll never be Home I'll never be Home I'll never be Home I'll never be Home I'll never be Home I'll never be