When I first thought to hobo'in, hobo'in
I took a freight train to be my friend, oh Lord
You know I hobo'd, hobo'd, hobo'd, hobo'd
Hobo'd a long, long way from home, oh Lord
Yes, my mother followed me that mornin', me that mornin', boy
She followed me down to the yard, oh yeah
She said, "My son he's gone, he's gone, he's gone
Yes, he's gone in a poor some wear, oh yeah"
Yes, I left my dear old mother, dear old mother
I left my honor, need a crime, oh Lord
Take care of my child
Take care, take care of my child
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Bluesbuff
I'd like to correct these lyrics: Change "When I first thought to hobo'n, hobo'n" to 'When I first start'd to hobo'n, hobo'n". He sings "started" as one syllable: "start''d" Change "he's gone in a poorsome wear" (What-in-the H is THAT??) to "he's gone in the world somewhere". That's where he's gone alright. "In the world somewhere". Sound logical. Everybody has gotta be someplace! He's 'In de woild somewhere". Change "I left my honor, need a crime" (Whaaat??) to "I left her on her knees a-cryin'". Now that makes more sense! Depending on how it was sung, a lot of old bluesmen often simply left out lines: This could have been, "I left my ("mother",..only unsung, so it's a blank..) on her knees a-cryin'." So you get, "I left my,( silent)....on her knees a-cryin.". "Mother" is implied but not mentioned. So I can see how "my honor need a crime" and "my,...on her knees a-cryin'" could sound similar. Don't forget, there's his thick dialect and enunciation traits to consider as well. If Hooker didn't sing "knees", but sang "knee" or softened the "s"s to inaudible, phonetically, you'll get, "my...honor need a crime". Especially if he chewed his words a bit.: ""cryin'mmm". (Chew it up good, John,..) Our ears don't always know the difference. But our brains do. There are a few recordings where, "he's gone" or "he gone" is changed to "you gone". And John Lee sometimes sang, " You gone AWAY in the world somewhere." I guess it all depended on his mood and what he felt like singing at the time. Hopes this helps a bit. ( I love this old blues tune!)