Dying Hobo

Cat. #1163 (MFH #217) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on July 27, 1971

VERSE 1
A way out west on a water tank
One cold December day
An' in th empty car box
A dying hobo laid

VERSE 2
Me n' that girl in yonders grave
She dressed in silk, so fine
But when she heerd poor George was dead
She laid her silk aside

VERSE 3
She follered him up, she follered him down
She follered him to his grave
An' there she knelt down on her knees
She wept, she mourned, she prayed

VERSE 4
O daughter, O daughter, what makes you weep
There's more men than George
O Mother, O Mother, he's all of my heart
But now he's dead an' gone

VERSE 5
See that dove in yonders grove
It's flyin' from vine to vine
It's mourning for its own true love
Just like I mourn for mine

VERSE 6
O, open back th coffin lid
Lay back th lening so fine
An' let me kiss his cold sweet lips
For I'm sure he'll never kiss mine

Variants