He was standin' by the highway with a sign that just said Mother
When he heard a driver comin' 'Bout a half a mile away
Then he held the sign up higher, Where no decent soul could miss it
It was ten degrees or colder Down by bolder dam that day
He was raised up in Milwaukee-Though he never was that famous
He was just a road musician-To the taverns he would go
Singin' songs about the ramblin'-The lovin' girls and gamblin'
How the world fell on his shoulders-Back in Boulder I don't know
It was out in Arizona-That he heard the lady listenin
To each word that he was sayin'-To each line that he would write
So he sat down by her table and They talked about the weather
Ninety-eight point six and risin'-Down by Boulder dam that day
And she told him she would take him-For a ride
in the mornin' sun, Back in Boulder he had told her,
I don't know when I had a better friend
Now he's traded off his Martin-But his troubles are not over
For his feet are almost frozen-And the sun is sinkin' low
Won't you listen to me brother-If you ever loved your mother
Please pull off on the shoulder-If you're goin' Milwaukee way
It's ten degrees and getting colder-Down by Boulder dam today