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