TRAVELING MAN
Dolly Parton


The man I loved ran a salesman route
Selling goods from house to house
Now I knew my mama would never stand
For me stepping out with no traveling man
Mama bought things that he was a?selling
But mama didn?t know and I sure wasn?t telling
That behind her back I was making plans
To meet somewhere with that traveling man
Oh the traveling man was a good bit older
But a girl needs arms to hold her
Mama didn?t know ?cause I didn?t told her
But mama wouldn?t understand
Me stepping out with a traveling man

Mama didn?t allow me a?going courting
And I?d tell lies that I reckon I oughtn?t
Oh but she?d a?give me the back a? her hand
If she?d a?seen me with that traveling man
So I tell my mama that I reckon I oughta
Go to the spring and fetch us some water
What mama didn?t know is I had a plan
To meet down there with that traveling man

Now I make plans to run away
With that traveling man on a saturday
Well saturday?s here and here I stand
And there goes my mama with that traveling man

Oh that traveling man was a two-time lover
He took my love then he took my mother
But I didn?t know ?cause mama didn?t told me and I don?t understand
My mama running off with my traveling man

Mama, you know you oughtn?t a?done that
You just like my daddy
He run off before I ever knowed him
You done run-off with my traveling man
And I really don?t think I ever knowed you either
Oh there goes my mama with my traveling man
And I?m really gonna miss that traveling man
Mm-hm