My old man had a rounder's soul He'd hear an old freight train then he'd have to go
He came through town back before the war Didn't even know what it was he was lookin' for Carried a tattered bag for his violin Full of lots of songs of the places that he'd been
He talked real easy had a smiling way He could pass along to you when his fiddle played Makin' people drop their cares and woes To hum out loud those tunes that his fiddle bowed
This fiddler's eye caught one beauty there She had that rollin' flowing' glowing kind of hair Just played for her as if she danced alone He played his favorites songs the ones he called his own
He played until she was the last to go Then he sopped and packed his case and said he'd take her home And all the nights that passed a child was born All the years that passed love would keep them warm
Making people drop their cares and woes To hum out loud those tunes that his fiddle bowed
Well the train one morning blew a lonesome sound As if she sang the blues of what it took from town And all that I recall and said when I was young Was no one else could rally sing those songs he sung
Making people drop their cares and woes To hum out loud those tunes that his fiddle bowed