Headed down south to the land of the pines And I'm thumbin' my way into North Caroline Starin' up the road Pray to God I see headlights
I made it down the coast in seventeen hours Pickin' me a bouquet of dogwood flowers And I'm a-hopin' for Raleigh I can see my baby tonight
So rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel Rock me, mama, any way you feel Hey, mama rock me Rock me, mama, like the wind and the rain Rock me, mama, like a south-bound train Hey, mama rock me
Runnin' from the cold up in New England I was born to be a fiddler in an old-time string band My baby plays the guitar I pick a banjo now
Oh, the North country winters keep a-gettin' me now Lost my money playin' poker so I had to up and leave But I ain't a-turnin' back To livin' that old life no more
So rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel Rock me, mama, any way you feel Hey, mama rock me Rock me, mama, like the wind and the rain Rock me, mama, like a south-bound train Hey, mama rock me
Walkin' to the south out of Roanoke I caught a trucker out of Philly Had a nice long toke But he's a-headed west from the Cumberland Gap To Johnson City, Tennessee
And I got to get a move on before the sun I hear my baby callin' my name And I know that she's the only one And if I die in Raleigh At least I will die free
So rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel Rock me, mama, any way you feel Hey, mama rock me Rock me, mama, like the wind and the rain Rock me, mama, like a south-bound train Hey, mama rock me