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