Cannonball Blues

Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional

Played by Jerry Garcia with the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers in 1961, and with David Nelson in 1962. Thanks to Matt Shcofield for the lyrics.

Wash all my shirt and my dirty overall
I'm riding on the train that they call the Cannonball
Honey, babe, I'm leaving you

See that train, it's coming down the track
Taking me away but it ain't bringing me back
Now I'm gone, I'm solid gone

Goin' up north I'm goin' to go next fall
My luck don't change I won't be back at all
Honey babe, I'm leaving you

My baby left me she even took my shoes
Ain't got nothing but them dirty no good blues
Now she's gone, she's solid gone

See that train coming down the track
It's taking me but it ain't a'bringing me back
Now I'm gone, solid gone

Oh listen to the train, coming down the line
Trying to make up all their lost time
From Buffalo to Washington

You can wash my jumper, starch my overalls
Catch a train they call the Cannonball
From Buffalo to Washington

My baby's left me, she even took my shoes
Enough to give a man these doggone worried blues
She's gone, she's solid gone

Yonder comes the train, coming down the track
Carry me away but it ain't gonna carry me back
My honey babe, my blue eyed babe

I'm going up north, I'm going up north this fall
If luck don't change, I won't be back at all
My honey babe, I'm leaving you