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