I left New York nineteen forty-nine To go across the country, without a dad-blame dime(1) Montana in the cold cold fall Found my father in a gamblin' hall
Father, father, where have you been? I've been in the world since I was only ten 'Don't worry about me, I'm about to die of the pleurisy Cross the Mississippi, cross the Tennessee Cross the Niagara, home I'll never be Home in old Medora, home in ol' Truckee(2) Apalachicola, home I'll never be
Better or for worse, and thick and thin Well, I've been married to the little woman God loved me, just like I loved him I want you to do just the same for him Oh, the worms eat away But don't worry, watch the wind Oh, the worms eat away But don't worry, watch the wind Oh, 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 Home in old Medora, home in ol' Truckee Apalachicola, home I'll never be Home I'll never be Home I'll never be