Haggard, Merle - Hobo Bill's Last Ride Lyrics






Riding on the eastbound freight train speeding through the night
Hobo Bill the railroad bum was fighting for his life
And the sadness of his eyes revealed the torture of his soul
He raised a weak and weary hand to brush away the coal.

No warm lights flickered round him no blankets there to hold
Nothing but the howling wind the driving rain so cold
When he heard a whistle blowing in a dreamy kind of way
The hobo seemed contented for he smile there where he lay.
Hey ho-bo Bill.

Outside the rain was falling on the lonely boxcar door
But the little form of Hobo Bill lay dead upon the floor
While the train sped through the darkness with the raging storm outside
No one knew that Hobo Bill was taking his last ride
Hey ho-bo Bill...





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Haggard, Merle Hobo Bill's Last Ride Comments
  1. D.... D....

    Hobo Bill
    Merle Haggard
    Hobo Bill-why
    Riding on that eastbound freight train speeding through the night
    Hobo Bill a railroad bum was fighting for his life
    The sadness of his eyes revealed the torture of his soul
    He raised a weak and weary hand to brush away the cold
    Hobo Bill
    No warm lights flickered round him no blankets there to hold
    Nothing but the howling wind and the driving rain so cold
    When he heard a whistle blowing in a dreamy kind of way
    The hobo seemed contented for he smiled there where he lay
    Hobo Bill
    Outside the rain was falling on that lonely boxcar door
    But the little form of Hobo Bill lay still upon the floor
    While the train sped through the darkness and the raging storm outside
    No one knew that Hobo Bill was taking his last ride
    It was early in the morning when they raised the hobo's head
    The smile still lingered on his face but Hobo Bill was dead
    There was no mother's longing to soothe his weary soul
    For he was just a railroad bum who died out in the cold

  2. D.... I....

    Im with u Tommy clay.great man he was.too.

  3. M.... C....

    No other will ever be!! One of a kind forever Merle!! Great yodeling as well which we don't hear much. R-I-P See you in heaven some day to hear your great voice once again!!! A true Legend!

  4. T.... D....

    The Father of Country music!

  5. S.... T....

    Im a classic rocker but i love merle

  6. O.... D....

    R.I.P. MERLE HAGGARD
    R.I.P. STOBE THE HOBO
    May piece be with you.......✌

  7. P.... H....

    Riding on the eastbound freight train
    speeding through the night
    Hobo Bill the railroad bum was fighting for his life
    the sadness of his eyes
    revealed the torture of his soul
    He raised a weak and weary hand
    to brush away the coal.

    No warm lights flickered round him
    no blankets there to hold
    Nothing but the howling wind
    and the driving rain so cold

    When he heard a whistle blowing
    in a dreamy kind of way
    The hobo seemed contented
    for he smile there where he lay.
    Hey hobo Bill.
    **********
    Outside the rain was falling
    on the lonely boxcar door
    But the little form of Hobo Bill
    lay dead upon the floor

    And there was no mother's longing
    to sooth his weary soul
    So he was just a hobo
    And he died out in the cold
    Hey hobo Bill.....

  8. J.... M....

    You are missed Hag. Now Heaven has swinging doors. RIP sir.

  9. R.... F....

    THIS SONG WAS ON MERLE' S TRIBUTE ALBUM TO JIMMIE RODGERS SO IT IN NO WAY DIMINISHES ANYONE'S RESPECT FOR JIMMIE RODGERS ! JIMMIE WAS A TRUE PIONEER IN COUNTRY/FOLK MUSIC ! PERSONALLY I FEEL MERLE'S TONAL QUALITY AND DELIVERY IS SMOOTHER BUT IT TAKES NOTHING AWAY FROM JIMMIE'S ! P.S. THERE SEVERAL OTHER FINE SONGS ON THAT ALBUM ALSO ! (SAME TRAIN A DIFFERENT TIME) I ONCE HAD AND EIGHT TRACK CASSETTE OF THIS ALBUM .PLAYED IT IN MY 1969 CHEVY. LOVED IT AND MERLE'S MUSIC THEN AND STILL DO R.I.P. MERLE !

  10. j.... s....

    my late daddy loved Jimmy Rogers, heard him singing Jimmys song around my old home growing up miss you dad and Mr Merle who I got to see many years ago

  11. k.... w....

    When I was 5 years old I remember my Father singing and playing this song. Later I found out it was orifinally sung by Jimmie Rodgers. It's always been one of my favorites and always reminds me of my Father !!

  12. g.... p....

    Magic Merle

  13. A.... R....

    Holy shit he can sing.

  14. D.... R....

    Rest in peace merle haggard your music was truly appreciated

  15. B.... H....

    Just the best what else can be said real country.

  16. B.... H....

    Merle at his best as always my opinion best of all

  17. R.... W....

    Wow  did not know Mighty Merle did this,  thanks for sharing

  18. r.... k....

    so beautiful!

  19. J.... C....

    13 people presumably like Jimmie Rodgers better.

    J.... C....

    THIS SONG WAS ON MERLE' S TRIBUTE ALBUM TO JIMMIE RODGERS SO IT IN NO WAY DIMINISHES ANYONE'S RESPECT FOR JIMMIE RODGERS ! JIMMIE WAS A TRUE PIONEER IN COUNTRY/FOLK MUSIC ! PERSONALLY I FEEL MERLE'S TONAL QUALITY AND DELIVERY IS SMOOTHER BUT IT TAKES NOTHING AWAY FROM JIMMIE'S ! P.S. THERE SEVERAL OTHER FINE SONGS ON THAT ALBUM ALSO ! (SAME TRAIN A DIFFERENT TIME)

  20. Z.... M....

    Ohjhhhjhbhb.....snap! ..... I thought Townes had written this....! Wow...

    Z.... M....

    No, Jimmie Rodgers wrote it.

  21. T.... M....

    Merle Haggard and Marty Robbins could never be replaced .

  22. I.... M....

    ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

  23. S.... L....

    Merle was a great Country singer,reminds me of the late Jimmie Rodgers in this song and Waiting for a train. Thanks for sharing such great song of Merle Haggard.Miss him.

  24. M.... a....

    What A Singer!

  25. R.... B....

    What a tasty arrangement, beginning to end. Merle could do a country song, but this is one of his best, free and easy. Wondering if this was early in his career.

    R.... B....

    Live...1969

  26. l.... ....

    Excellent

  27. B.... M....

    You better believe Merle learned from the 'hobos' during his travels. Those licks have been around for 75 years. Amazing he re-did it.

  28. L.... M....

    love the music it soothes me

  29. j.... k....

    Rip Merle we,ll   miss you many thanks , thanks for the post.

  30. C.... F....

    Thomas Clay, you have a very good ear for Great Music, You are the Smartest 14 year old that i have run across in 20 Years, Cheers, Cousin Figel

  31. C.... F....

    R.I.P. Mr. Haggard, you are an American jewel, You Will never be forgotten.. I will see you in Opry Heaven, God I miss you so much Already, Cousin figel

  32. s.... p....

    Nathan, Your pictures make this an amazing video. Thanks for sharing.

  33. M.... J....

    love hobo bill

  34. c.... ....

    godbless you merle thankyou for your great songs

  35. M.... J....

    good job merle

  36. w.... w....

    One of the best, gone to rest

  37. B.... ....

    RIP Merle Haggard!! This is real country and western, not the crap they have out now.

    B.... ....

    There are still a few traditional style artists.

    B.... ....

    BNforever2009 wish real country music was still around. The so called new country is third rate and will never Las like the true classic country.

    B.... ....

    Merle haggard music

  38. R.... K....

    This song defines the two extremities of life.... the gap between the rich and poor.... Love it, Merle! May God take you HOME!

  39. C.... M....

    RIP Merle!

  40. J.... V....

    i will miss him and his music greatly god bless

  41. T.... C....

    I'm 14 and this is way better than the crap they play on the radio.

    T.... C....

    Yeah, but check out Jimmie Rodgers.

    T.... C....

    Tommy Clay you are right Tommy. My son feels the same way.

    T.... C....

    Never forget where music really comes from. The heart - not the companies.

    T.... C....

    well buddy I'm 54 and totally agree with you. we need more like you Bud Country music today is far from Country music.

    T.... C....

    Tommy clay You said this 3 years ago and it’s still true

  42. F.... Y....

    I knew back in 1969 when I first heard Merle singing Hobo Bill's Last Ride  that it would never be the same again. Still remember the when & where as I sat there listening to this for the first time , way way, back then.   Merle Haggard, , bringing us lives stories in songs  ,  thank you guy..

    F.... Y....

    Frank Yakabouski God bless him.

    F.... Y....

    I can remember listening to it as a 2 year old in 1949--Jimmy Rogers.

  43. J.... W....

    i put Merle right at the top of my list of the best! i hope i get a chance to see him and hear him sing! nobody will ever top this man! he was in a category and league of his own! GOD BLESS YOU Merle!

  44. E.... N....

    CARRY ON MERLE !!

  45. j.... k....

    Merle,s the best

  46. M.... B....

    true country. Merle and Stony Edwards. It does not get any better than that.

  47. c.... ....

    Excellant, only to be surpassed by maybe Bill Monroe in talent.

    c.... ....

    Don't forget the original, Jimmie Rodgers.

  48. R.... H....

    When I saw this song it brought me back to, at the time and, of the time a beautiful console stereo.  It was very long and my Dad Loved Merle Haggard, he would play some of his records and this song was on one of them.  I have to give my Dad some credit he had some very good musicians for his pick.  He used to say I'm Merle with the Pearl. He had a Pearl would where at some funerals and my Dad could really sing good, he got it from my Grandma.  She could sing, my favorite was I Over Looked An Orchid While Searching For A Rose. 

  49. H.... ....

    This has to be my favorite live Merle album..He just sounds awesome..Recorded in Muskogee

  50. r.... ....

    As a young boy I cried when I heard this song. Merle is a troubadour and can paint a picture with his lyrics.

  51. D.... C....

    Probably the best tribute album I've ever heard....very underrated.

    D.... C....

    I bought album in 1969 when I was 14--that is when I fell in love with dobro music

  52. T.... B....

    my dad sang it to me back in 1971 I was 5, I too would cry. I think that song alone gave me a soft spot for people less fortunate.

  53. D.... C....

    I agree......an excellent album.

  54. D.... C....

    If you don't have it, I can make you a copy. Let me know.

  55. D.... C....

    Have you heard Merles tribute album to Jimmie Rodgers? In my opinion, one of his best albums.....he nails every song.

    D.... C....

    So did Jimmie Rodgers & he had tuberculosis.

  56. G.... H....

    my mother used to feed hobos in ottumwa iowa, i think they markedthe house for other hobos.

    G.... H....

    Yep, Back In about 1939/40 Mom used to fix the Hobo's food & send some with them, Sometimes they would do a little work around the house...This was in Woodbine Iowa.

  57. m.... m....

    i remeber those day's but still a hag fan.

  58. R.... ....

    Breaks my heart to think how many "Hobo Bills" are out there today.

  59. J.... K....

    Jimmie Rogers was good..I am happy he got started to good much...country style..but Merle tops is all...the grestest! Janelle in Houston

  60. P.... ....

    Thank you, this has been added to our playlists...

  61. C.... ....

    Thanks so much for posting this. It brought tears to my eyes in 1969 and it brings tears to this old boys eyes tonight. Merle is the greatest singer ever!

  62. m.... ....

    I first heard this when I was very, very young. My Uncle Brud would sing and play guitar, And I can remember my Mom yodeling. The song was so sad, that my sisters and I would cry big tears and when it was over, we'd ask them to sing it again.

  63. m.... s....

    however, this was not recorded at the Hollywood Bowl...this recording cam from the Okie From Muskogee Live in Muskokee album....