w&m Anne Hills
© 2014 Raven Heart Music (ASCAP)

From Anne’s album Tracks

He was the littlest hobo on the train
tucked inside his daddy’s jacket
a pocket-sized delivery for a man without a home
the littlest hobo had to roam

He grew up sharing pork and beans
fell asleep to whiskey-scented stories
cans instead of dishes, stars instead of lights
the littlest hobo did alright

And tho’ his daddy always tried his best
never left him cold or hungry
finding work was easy but keepin’ work was hard
when their home was just an empty railroad yard

And when the winds blew cold
daddy hopped a southbound freight
sleeping in the corner of the empty cars
clicking wheels and moving state to state
and when the heat got bad
daddy headed north again
chuggin’ of the engine, hummin’ of the rails
brought the cooler nights and even cooler rain

He’d jump into his daddy’s arms
warn him if the railroad bulls were comin’
from Maine to California, St. Paul to Santa Fe
with friends at every stop along the way

At nighttime in the fire’s light
listening to the crickets and the snorin’
curled up by the bindle, underneath the sky
that sang, “The Littlest Hobo’s Lullaby”

Every rounder came to know his name
But mostly called him “little Scrapper”
Though his tail was always waggin”til the night he slipped away
and caught the westbound just before the day