DITCH DIGGER TO HOBO

I’m shaking the dust from my shoes now

Leaving out on the first freight train west

Look for me in the first open box car

On to St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver.

Is Denver really a mile-high city?

Wow, that is really up there, isn’t it?

Maybe I’ll even make it to spectacular San Francisco.

Do you suppose San Francisco is really true?

But I probably won’t end up at any of those,

More likely some place like Julian, California;

Plain View, Texas; or Elko, Nevada; Butte, Montana.

All jerk-water towns; nothing distinguishing.

Probably won’t be a cowboy, either.  More likely

Repair cars or roofs, or even mop floors.

Fate has a way of changing our woes forever.

What chance have I…a poor ditch digger?

Yet I can’t stay here, never advance.

Roll the dice, Old Fate.  See what we have.

If I don’t like the roll, I’ll roll them again.

So long old town!  Here comes my train.

Wherever it takes me, I’ll go.  Here’s my car.