I was young when I left home
And I been a-rambling 'round.
And I never wrote a letter to my home.
To my home, lord to my home.
And I never wrote a letter to my home.

It was just the other day,
I was bringing home my pay,
When I met an old friend I used to know.
Said your mother's dead and gone,
Baby sister's all gone wrong,
And your daddy needs you home right away.

Not a shirt on my back,
Not a penny on my name.
But I can't go home thisaway.
Thisaway, lord lord lord.
And I can't go home thisaway.

If you miss the train I'm on,
Count the days I'm gone.
You will hear that whistle blow a hundred miles.
Hundred miles honey baby, lord lord lord,
And you'll hear that whistle blow a hundred miles.

I'm playing on a track,
Ma would come and whoop me back
On them trussels down by old Jim McKay's.
When I pay the debt I owe to the commissary store,
I will pawn my watch and chain and go home.
Go home, lord lord lord.
I will pawn my watch and chain and go home.

Used to tell ma sometimes
When I see them riding blind,
Gonna make me a home out in the wind.
In the wind, lord in the wind.
Make me a home out in the wind.

I don't like it in the wind,
I'm a-go back home again,
But I can't go home thisaway.
Thisaway, lord lord lord,
And I can't go home thisaway.

I was young when I left home,
And I been all rambling 'round.
And I never wrote a letter to my home.
To my home, lord lord lord.
And I never wrote a letter to my home.