HARD TRAVELIN'
(by Woody Guthrie; learned from Tom Juster in 1963 at Teton Tea Parties)
I been havin' some hard travelin', I thought you knowed;
I been workin' a hard rock tunnel, I thought you knowed,
I been workin' that Pittsburgh steel, I thought you knowed,
I been hittin' some hard harvestin', I thought you knowed,
I been hittin' that Lincoln highway, I thought you knowed,
I been hittin' those hard jails, I thought you knowed.
I been ridin' them old freight cars, I thought you knowed,
(last two verses by somebody else, maybe Tom Juster)
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
I been havin' some hard travelin', way down the road.
I been havin' some hard travelin', hard ramblin', hard gamblin',
I been havin' some hard travelin', Lord.
I been leanin' on a pressure drill, way down the road.
Hammer flyin', air hose suckin', six feet of earth, I sure been a-muckin',
I been havin' some hard travelin', Lord.
I been workin' that red-hot slag, way down the road.
I been blastin', I been firin', I been workin' that red-hot iron,
I been havin' some hard travelin', Lord.
I been hittin' some rough handlin', way down the road.
Cut that wheat and stack that hay, tryin' to make 'bout a dollar a day,
I been havin' some hard travelin', Lord.
I been hittin' that sixty-six, way down the road.
Heavy load and a weary mind, lookin' for gal that's hard to find,
I been havin' some hard travelin', Lord.
I been layin' out ninety days, way down the road.
Mean ol' judge he says to me, it's ninety days for vagrancy,
I been havin' some hard travelin', Lord.
I been ridin' those fast ramblers, way down the road.
Bust my arm climbin' a peg, climb back down 'n' bust by leg,
I been havin' some hard travelin', Lord.