I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHERE I'M BOUND
(by Tom Paxton; learned in about 1967 at Teton Tea Parties)
It's a hard and a dusty road, it's a hot and heavy load,
I've been travelling all around, just doing the best I can
I had a little girl one time, she had lips like sherry wine,
There's a buddy from my home, and he started out to roam,
If you see me passing by, and you sit and wonder why,
Well, I've been from shore to shore, and I've slept from floor to floor
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
And the folks that I meet aren't always kind;
Some are bad and some are good, some have done the best they could,
Some have tried to ease my troubled mind.
And I can't help but wonder where I'm bound,
Can't help but wonder where I'm bound.
Trying to find what I was meant to be
And the people that I see look as worried as can be,
I think that they're all wondering too.
And I can't help but wonder...
And I loved her 'til my head went plumb insane,
But I was too blind to see she was a-driftin' away from me,
And my gal, she went off on the morning train.
And I can't help but wonder...
I hear he's out by 'Frisco Bay;
And when I've had a few, his old voice comes ringin' through,
I'm going out to greet him some day.
And I can't help but wonder..
Kinda wish that you were a rambler too,
Nail your shoes to the kitchen floor, lace them up and bar the door,
And thank your stars that there's a roof over you.
And I can't help but wonder...
So many places I have seen
I've seen people, I've seen things, I've seen cabbages and kings,
Sometimes I can't remember where I've been.
And I can't help but wonder...