I used to be a railroad bum a living on the go

I rode freights from Canada down to Mexico

From sunny Cal to Minnesot where the rippling waters falls

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 but I'm not anymore

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 - steel ]

When cotton's white in Tennessee and shrimp boats sail in Maine

Peach picking time soon will find me ridin' a Georgia train

Couse I get restless when I'm still I guess I always will

Want to keep traveling 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

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