C   G         C   G 
I am  a lonesome hobo 
    C    G      C   G 
Without family or friends, 
     C  G               C   G    
Where another man's life  might begin, 
      C     G            C  G      C   G 
That's exactly where mine ends. 
   C     G             C  
I have tried my hand at bribery, 
C     G         C       G     C     G 
Blackmail and deceit, 
 C   G           D        C     G 
And I've served time for ev'rything 
        C        D7       G     C    G    
'Cept beggin' on _ the street. 
 
C   G         C   G 
Well, once I was rather prosperous, 
C   G         C   G 
There was nothing I did lack. 
C   G         C   G 
I had fourteen-karat gold in my mouth 
C     G            C  G      C   G 
And silk upon my back. 
C     G         C       G     C     G 
But I did not trust my brother, 
C   G           D        C     G 
I carried him to blame, 
C        D7       G     C    G  
Which led me to my fatal doom, 
 
To wander off in shame. 
 
C   G         C   G 
Kind ladies and kind gentlemen, 
C   G         C   G 
Soon I will be gone, 
C   G         C   G 
But let me just warn you all, 
C     G            C  G      C   G 
Before I do pass on; 
 C     G             C  
Stay free from petty jealousies, 
C     G         C       G     C     G 
Live by no man's code, 
C   G           D        C     G 
And hold your judgment for yourself 
C        D7       G     C    G  
Lest you wind up on this road.