I was young when i left home An' I been out a-ramblin' round An' I never wrote a letter to my home To my home, lord, to my home An' I never wrote a letter to my home. It was just the other day I was bringin' home my pay When i met an' old friend i used to know Said, "Your mother is dead an' gone An' your sisters all gone wrong An' your daddy needs you home right away.'' Not a shirt on my back Not a penny on my name But I can't go home this a-way This a-way, lord, this a-way An' I can't go home this a-way. If you miss the train I'm on Count the days I'm gone You will hear that whistle blow hundred miles Hundred miles, honey baby, lord, lord, lord An' you'll hear that whistle blow hundred miles. An' I'm playin' on a track, ma'd come an' woop me back On them trusses down by Ol' Jim McKay's When I pay the debt i own to the commissary store I will pawn my watch an' chain an' go home Go home, lord, lord, lord I will pawn my watch an' chain an' go home. Used to tell my ma sometimes When I see them ridin' blind Gonna make me a home out in the wind In the wind, lord in the wind Make me a home out in the wind. I don't like it in the wind I go back home again But i can't go home this a-way This a-way, lord, lord, lord An' i can go home this a-way. I was young when i left home An' I been out a-ramblin' round An' I never wrote a letter to my home To my home, lord, to my home An' I never wrote a letter to my home.