The Kingston Trio Album

Chorus:
Oh, let the midnight special, shine her light on me. Oh, let the midnight special shine her everlovin' light on me.

Well, if you ever go to Texas you better walk straight. You better not stop. Hey! You better not wait
For the sheriff will arrest you and your head he'll pound. You'll wake up in the morning; the prison walls all around.

(Chorus)

Well, you wake up in the morning and they take you to the train. You better answer to the captain when he calls your name.
Then your guts are gonna get you and your body's gonna shake but they got you on a big chain, so you can't escape.

(Chorus)

Yonder comes my woman. How in the world do I know? Well, I know her by her wiggle and the dress she wore.
The last time that I was with her, she made me jump and shout. I'm gonna whip that captain. Watch me jump on out!

(Chorus twice)

Chorus:
I have been a rover. I have walked alone. Hiked a hundred highways. Never found a home.
Still and all, I'm happy. The reason is, you see, once in a while, along the way, love's been good to me.

There was a girl in Denver before the summer's storm. Oh, her eyes were tender. Oh, her arms were warm,
And she could smile away the thunder. Kiss away the rain and even though she's gone away, you won't hear me complain.

(Chorus)

There was a girl in Portland before the winter chill. We use to go a-courtin' along October hill,
And she could laugh away the dark clouds. Cry away the snow. It seems like only yesterday as down the road I go.

(Chorus)

Once in a while along the way, love's been good to me.

They come in their summery dresses and jackets so fine, the rich folks who measure success with a big dollar sign.
They gaze with delight with the rocks and the scraggly pines. The come in the Spring and they stay 'til the Fall
On Paradise Mountain away from it all.

Chorus:
Stubble and stone make a hard row to how. What little will grow, the drought will kill.
The summer folks call it Paradise Mountain but we call it Poverty Hill.

They say we have beautiful faces as grainy as wood. Yeah, they'd like to live here of all places if only they could.
Well, we don't get those wood, grainy faces from livin' too good. It's the rocks and the sun and dust and the heat.
It's too much of work and too little to eat.

(Chorus)

They pack and say what a pity that they have to go. They say that Old Smokey's so pretty all covered with snow,
But how we get through the winter they never will know. No lard for the pantry. No grist for the meal
And winter's are cold over Poverty Hill.

(Chorus)

Yes, we call it Poverty Hill.

I am a young man, so you'll know, my age is twenty-one. I come from out in southern Colorado.
Just home from the service and I'm looking for my fun. Some day soon, she's goin' with me, some day soon.
Some day soon, goin' with me, some day soon.

Her daddy, he can't stand me 'cause I'm with the rodeo. Her mother says that I would leave her cryin',
She would follow me right down the toughest row to hoe. Some day soon, she's goin' with me, some day soon.
Some day soon, goin' with me, some day soon.

Hey, when I visit her pa ain't got one good word to say, but I can't help thinkin' he was just as wild in his day.
So blow you old blue Northern, come on, blow me back to her. I'm drivin' in tonight from California,
And I love that damned old rodeo just as much as I love her. Some day soon, she's goin' with me, some day soon.
Some day soon, goin' with me, some day soon.

Hey, when I visit her pa ain't got one good word to say, but I can't help thinkin' he was just as wild in his day.
So blow you old blue Northern, come on, blow me back to her. I'm drivin' in tonight from California,
And I love that damned old rodeo as much as I love her. Some day soon, she's goin' with me, some day soon.
Some day soon, goin' with me, some day soon. (Some day soon.) (Repeat last line and fade)

Chorus:
Done laid around, done stayed around this old town too long. Summer's almost gone. Winter's comin' on.
Done laid around, done stayed around this old town too long and I feel like I gotta travel on.

Papa writes to Johnny. Johnny can't come home. Johnny can't come home, no, Johnny can't come home.
Papa writes to Johnny. Johnny can't come home for he's been on the chain gang too long.

High sheriff and police comin' after me. Comin' after me, oh, comin' after me.
High sheriff and police comin' after me and I feel like I gotta travel on.

(Chorus)

Want-a see my honey. Want-a see her bad. Want-a see her bad, oh, I want-a see her bad.
Want-a see my honey and I want-a see her bad. She's the best gal this poor boy ever had.

(Chorus)

And I feel like I gotta travel, done laid around, done stayed around this old town too long.

Chorus:
I hope you understand I've a long way to go. Hope you understand because I told you so.
Well, as the people say, I will be comin' back this way, but until then, gal, you're on your own.

I'm not the kind of guy just for hangin' 'round. I'm bored to tears with this old town.
Well, if you behave, hey, I'll send you a card from Santa Fe but until then, gal, you're on your own.

(Chorus)

I'm gonna walk away. Don't you come on along. I will be singin' a lonesome song.
It's sad but true but I've just got to get away from you but until then, gal, you're on your own.

(Chorus)

I could never stay upon the shelf where the wind and rain are never felt
But, hey, don't cry. I'll be comin' back, by and by, but until then, gal, you're on your own.

(Chorus)

Two little soldiers, their games are such fun, each with his helmet and little toy gun,
Pretending their lying on some battlefield dead after their tucked away safe in their bed.

Chorus:
Little play soldiers if only you knew what kind of battles are waiting for you.

Quiet, don't disturb all that innocence of youth. Tell them not to lie but never tell them the truth
That men will fall down while little boys grow but little play soldiers are too busy to know.

(Chorus)

Little white crosses and their rows are so long. How will it end if you don't know it's wrong?
Little play soldiers never know why, you love them and kiss them and then send them to die.

(Chorus)

Two little soldiers, their games are such fun, each with his helmet and little toy gun,
Soon they will lie on some battlefield dead 'stead of tucked away safe in their bed.

(Chorus)

All you little soldiers, if only you knew, what kind of battles are waiting for you.

Chorus:
Seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door shall open. Ask and it shall be given and the love come a-trickling down.

My mother, the Lord has been here. (Repeat twice) and the love come a-trickling down.

(Chorus)

My sister, the Lord has told me. (Repeat twice) and the love come a-trickling down.

(Chorus)

My brother, the Lord has showed me. (Repeat twice) and the love come a-trickling down.

(Chorus)

Yeah, I said seek (Seek and ye shall find.) Then you knock (Knock and the door shall open.)
And you ask (Ask and it shall be given) and the love come a-trickling down.

Yeah, I said love (Love come a-trickling down.) I said love (Love come a trickling down) (Fade out)

Chorus:
Fare thee well, my ramblin' boy, may all your rambles bring you joy. Yes, (Chorus)

He was a man and a friend always. We rambled 'round in the hard, old days.
He never cared if I had no dough. We rambled 'round in the rain or snow.

(Chorus)

Late one night in a jungle camp, the weather it was cold and damp.
He got the chills and he got them bad. I lost the only friend I had.

(Chorus)

He left me here to ramble on. My ramblin' pal is dead and gone.
If, when we die, we go some where, I'll bet you a dollar he's a-ramblin' there.

(Chorus)

May all your rambles bring you joy. (Repeat)

Them Sand Pickers:

How 'bout them sand pickers, ain't they grand? Sittin' on their haunches, pickin' in the sand.
Pickin' in the wet sand. Pickin' in the dry. Pickin' it fiercely. Lookit fly.
Lookit them sand pickers, ain't they slick? Some use their fingers. Some use a stick.
Them seashore sand pickers, ain't they fine? Sittin' in the sand a-pickin' up time.
How to be a sand picker, don't need a ticket. Find a bunch of sand, stoop down and pick it!

Them Dog Kickers:

How 'bout them dog kickers, ain't they crumbs? Kickin' them doggies in their buns.
Kickin' them Afghans. Kickin' them mutts. Kickin' them puppies poor little butts.
Lookit them dog kickers, ain't they cute? Some use a shower shoe. Some use a boot.
Them dadgum dog kickers, ain't they mean? Runnin' kickin' every day that's seen.
How to be a dog kicker, don't need a ticket. Find an old dog. Haul off and kick it!

Them Tummy Gummers:

How 'bout them tummy gummers, ain't they dummies? Havin' they fun of gummen their tummies.
Gummen them haunches out of they mind. Runnin' 'round shoutin', "It's tummy gummen time!"
Lookit them tummy gummers, lurkin' in the yard, waitin' for a jelly belly, catch it off guard.
Them hell-bent tummy gummers, ain't they dummocks? Runnin' through the neighborhood, gummen them stomachs.
How to be a tummy gummer, no way to shut it. Grab an abdomen and rear off and gum it!

Fare thee well, my own true love. I'm leavin' the first hour of the morn.
I'm bound off for the bay of Mexico and maybe the coast of Californ.

Chorus:
So, fare them well, my own true love. We'll meet another day, another time.
It's not the leavin' that's grievin' me, but my true love whose bound to stay behind.

The weather is against me and the wind blows hard and the rain, she's a-turnin' into hail,
But I still might strike it lucky on a highway going West though I'm travelin' the path-beaten trail.

I'll write you a letter from time to time. As I ramble you can travel with me, too.
With my hands in my head and my heart, my love, I will send what I know back home to you.

(Chorus)

There's a place I've heard of where I might as well be bound. It's down around Mexican plain.
And they say that the people are all friendly down there. All they ask of you is your name.

I'll tell you of the laughter and the troubles be their somebody else's or my own.
With my hands in my pocket and my coat collar high, I will travel unnoticed and unknown.

(Chorus)

Well, no matter where I wandered I know I'll always find a welcome at the end of every journey.
There'll be friendly people waitin'.

Chorus:
California would not hold me 'though I loved her timber mountains.
Worked her fields and worked her orchids up and down her central valley.

I have driven open highway through the golden Utah valley
And I watched the rivers gently gliding. I wave my hand to friendly people.

(Chorus)

Folks who know me call me a drifter. They don't know I'll stop my ramblin'.
They don't know that someday somewhere somebody's gonna make me settle down.

I'm going home, Lord, I'm going home. (Repeat and then chorus twice)

I'm going home!