Now, folks let me tell you about a feller I know
His home is down in Tennessee
He made his living stealin' chickens
And everything else he could see
And one day the sheriff got behind 'ol Joes
And he made him take to the road
Ain't never been a passenger train
That ran so fast that man couldn't get on board

Travelin' man
Lord, he must have been a travelin' man
Travelin' ramblin' man
He was the swiftest in the land
Gamblin' ramblin' Joe
They know'd him in every town
He wouldn't stay put
No, he won't give up
And I'll bet he never settled down

They sent that fella to the spring one day
For to fetch a pail of water
The distance from the spring to the house
It was sixteen miles and a quarter
He got that bucket of water alright
But stubbed his toe and fell down
He run to the house and he grabbed another bucket
Caught the water 'fore it hit the ground

Travelin' man
Yes, he must have been a travelin' man
Travelin' ramblin' man
He was the swiftest in the land
Gamblin' ramblin' Joe
They know'd him in every town
He wouldn't stay put
No, he won't give up
And I'll bet he never settled down

Well, he hoboed the great Titanic
Thought he'd try out the ocean blue
But when he seen that ol' iceberg a comin'
Right over that boat Joe flew
The rest of them passengers hollered and laughed
Said, "look at what a great big fool"
But while that old boat was a sinking
Joe was shootin' crap in Liverpool

Travelin' man, I say
He must have been a travelin' man
Travelin' ramblin' man
He was the swiftest in this land
Gamblin' ramblin' Joe
They know'd him in every town
He wouldn't stay put
No, he won't give up
And I bet he never settled down

Well, the police finally caught up to poor ol' Joe
And then they sentenced him to hang one day
The solemn ol' judge looked at Joe and says
"Have you got anything to say?"
He smiled at the judge and the jury
He says, "bow down your head in prayer"
Crossed up his legs and then he winked one eye
And went sailing off through the air, ha ha

Travelin' man, ain't that fate
He must have been a travelin' man
Travelin' ramblin' man
He was the swiftest in this land
Gamblin' ramblin' Joe
They know'd him in every town
He wouldn't stay put
No, he won't give up
And I'll bet he never settled down

Copyright: Downtown Music Publishing
Writer(s): Arthel Lane Watson