I used to be a railroad bum a living on the go
I rode freights from Canada down to Mexico
From sunny Cal to Minnesotta where the rippling waters fall
I never seemed to have a dime but I had myself a ball

Singing hi le hi lo he li le li lo
I used to be a railroad bum always on the go

I walked in the Silver Dollar in Reno one night
Dropped a quarter in a one armed bandit the lemons lined up right
Took my winnings then played poker and I won ten thousand more
I used to be a railroad bum but I'm not anymore

Singing hi le hi lo he li le li lo
I used to be a railroad bum but I'm not anymore
[ guitar ]
When cotton's white in Tennessee and shrimp boats sail in Maine
Peach picking time soon will find me ridin' a Georgia train
I get restless when I'm still I guess I always will
I wanna keep travelin' all my life over another hill

Singing hi le hi lo he li le li lo
I used to be a railroad bum but I'm not anymore