Milwaukee Blues

Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional

Robert Hunter sang this in a performance on 31 October 1998. The lyrics have much in common with The Ballad Of Casey Jones.

Early in the morning and it looked like rain
Round the curve come a passenger train
On the blind sat old Bill Jones
He's a good old hobo and he's tryin' to get home
Tryin' to get home, tryin' to get home

I left Atlanta on a tramp
Roads are gettin' muddy and my legs are gettin' damp
I got to catch a freight train to leave this town
'Cause they don't allow no hobos a-hangin' around
Hangin' around
'Cause they don't allow no hobos a-hangin' around

I left Atlanta 'bout the break of day
The brakeman said, you'll have to pay
Got no money so I pawned my shoes
I want to go west, I got the Milwaukee blues
Milwaukee blues, Milwaukee blues
I want to go west, I got the Milwaukee blues

Old Bill Jones said before he died
When they ride they will ride the rods
Put all their trust in the hands of God
In the hands of God, hands of God
Put all their trust in the hands of God

Old Bill said before he died
There were two more drinks that he'd like to try
The fireman said what could those drinks be
A cool drink of water and a cup of tea
Cup of tea, cup of tea
A cool drink of water and a cup of tea

Old Bill said before he died
There were two more roads that he'd like to ride
The fireman said what could those roads be
Well the fireman said tell me what could those roads be
Southern Pacific and the Santa Fee

I left Atlanta on a tramp
Roads are gettin' muddy and my legs are gettin' damp
I got to catch a freight train to leave this town
'Cause they don't allow no hobos a-hangin' around
Hangin' around, hangin# around
'Cause they don't allow no hobos a-hangin' around

I left Atlanta 'bout the break of day
The brakeman said, you'll have to pay
Got no money so I pawned my shoes
I want to go west, I got the Milwaukee blues
Milwaukee blues, Milwaukee blues
I want to go west, I got the Milwaukee blues