Story Behind The Song
Cautionary tale.
Song Description
The life of a gambler on the Mississippi.
| Song Length |
2:51 |
Genre |
Country - Americana, Folk - Americana |
| Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Troubled, Miserable |
Subject |
Gambling, Alchohol, Beer, Wine |
| Similar Artists |
Alison Krauss, Flatts & Scruggs |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1800 - 1899 |
| |
Lyrics
Ragman
Like a ragman waiting on a train
Gotta leave here before the rain
Washes the reason for me to be sane
There are bad men gunning for me
Came out here looking for gold
Had a lot of hope foolish and bold
Had a little trouble , kind of a shame
But he aimed his gun at me
It's an easy living but it has its toll
Gotta bad temper with a troubled soul
Had to be a player in a rigged up game
He was just a cheat to me
I never found gold, I never did try
Just a lazy fool man wantin' to die
On gambling and whiskey I lay the blame
Stretch me on a hangman tree.
CHORUS
Hard work for gold wasn't for me
The easy way made a rot out of me.
Made sense to me, wild and free
Time will tell what'll come of me.
Found Jessie's charms ona rainy day
Worked out good as long as I paid
Maybe women are all the same
She tried to put a bullet in me.
The river's a place for a gambling man
They'll come and finds me if they can
Winner or loser, it's all the same
The devil is waiting for me.
CHORUS
(last line) The devil will tell what'll come of me.