My grandfather was a hobo. As a teenager he decided to hop a train and live the life of a bum. He never could explain what exactly was running through his head when he decided to live the life of a homeless one, but he had interesting stories about the lifestyle. He indicated that there were some things he wouldn't discuss which was just as well. I was probably better off not knowing and let him take some of those tales to his grave.The old time hobo is often romanticized in pop culture, but I imagine it's a life few of us would live. Without the conveniences of modern dwellings we'd go insane just attempting to light a fire on a daily basis or living off the greens of the land.
So in honor of my grandfather's lifestyle choice I bring you a song that detailed the dreams of many a hobo:
"I have sung in hobo jungles, and I have sung for the Rockefellers, and I am proud that I have never refused to sing for anybody." - Pete Seeger
"I'm not a stabbin' hobo, I'm a singin' hobo. Nothing beats the hobo life, stabbin' people with my hobo knife."
ReplyDeleteThere was an interesting discussion about this song on Metafilter some time ago. See http://www.metafilter.com/56443/A-hobo-is-a-man-of-the-world-who-travels-to-see-and-observe-and-then-shares-those-views-with-others
ReplyDeleteThe McClintock version of the song you have here omits the best verse:
The punk rolled up his big blue eyes
And said to the jocker, "Sandy,
I've hiked and hiked and wandered too,
But I ain't seen any candy.
I've hiked and hiked till my feet are sore
And I'll be damned if I hike any more
To be buggered sore like a hobo's whore
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains."
And, apparently, you posted this just a week before the "National Hobo Convention": http://hobo.com/convention.htm
ReplyDeleteHow interesting!
ReplyDeleteCxx