Dad was my hero God called him away
Momma was lonely and I was afraid
With no one to lean on I turned to the booze
Hard times come early when you’re born with the blues

Railroads were leaving and airplanes were in
The great war was brewing about to begin
Hungry and lonesome nothing to lose
Raised in a boxcar and born with the blues

Born with the blues trouble in mind
Smoking and drinking by the time I was nine
In debt from the start I’m still paying my dues
Crazy and lonely and born with the blues

In spite of the cocaine and in spite of it all
God gave me a woman to cushion the fall
You’re like Paul of the bible spreading good news
A man on a journey and born with the blues