Lyrics: Dick Blakeslee
Music: Dick Blakeslee
Covered at least once by Robert Hunter in 1983, this song was written in the 1940s
and popularised by Peter Seeger and others.
I saw Adam leave the garden with an apple in his hand
I said, now that you're out, what are you gonna do?
Plant my crops and pray for rain
Maybe raise a little Cain
'Cause I'm an orphan and I'm only passing through
Chorus
Passing through, passing through
Sometimes happy, sometimes blue
Glad that I ran into you
Tell the people that you saw me passing through
I was at Franklin Roosevelt's side just an hour before he died
He said, one world must come out of World War Two
Yankee, Russian, white or tan
Lord, a man is just a man
You know we're all brothers and we're only passing through
[chorus]
I saw Jesus on the cross on that hill called Calvary
I said, do you hate mankind for what they've done to you?
Hell no, he said, speak of love, not hate
Things to do, it's getting late
I've so little time and I'm only passing through
[chorus]
I shivered with George Washington one night at Valley Forge
I said, George, why do the men stick it out like they do?
He said, men will suffer, fight
Even die for what is right
Even though they know they're only passing through
[chorus]
I saw Adam leave the garden with an apple in his hand
I said, Adam now that you're out, what are you going to do
Plant some crops and pray for rain, maybe raise a little Cain
I'm an orphan now, just passing through
[chorus]