I saw a man a - walkin'
His hands were in his pocket
His head was hangin', lookin' at his feet

Well he looked up and saw me
And asked me for a quarter
Or if I knew a good cheap place to eat

Well I just shrugged my shoulders
Said, "If I could help you brother
I wouldn't be out walkin' on the street

With nothin' more to say
Just turned and walked away
Hopin' for a richer man to meet.

   I long for the old home
   I long for the hills
   Swingin' on the front porch
   Lord knows I ain't had my fill.

Well I left home at fifteen
With a guitar and a dream
And a heart that needs learnin' more of life

I never had a job long
I never was the kind
To settle down forever with a wife

I may have met some men
That you read about in books
And there were times that I was livin' right

But I ain't got much to show
Here livin' on skid row
No one to help this old man through the night.