We were reminded of a delightful old song this week.  The sentiments are lovely, and surprisingly, still relevant.  We find ourselves wondering if  these 'hobos' were the same types of folk we see now see wandering our downtown streets, or is this a different brand of homeless?  Will the current economic downturn engender a resurgence of travelling homeless?  

Click on the Youtube link at the end of this article to hear the song performed by a young Merle Haggard.  The lyrics are written below.

Tonight as I lay on the boxcar
Just waiting for a train to pass by
What will become of the hobo
Whenever his time comes to die?

There's a Master up yonder in heaven
Got a place that we might call our home
Will we have to work for a living
Or can we continue to roam? 

Will there be any freight trains in heaven
Any boxcars in which we might hide
Will there by any tough cops or brakemen
Will they tell us that we cannot ride?

Will the hobo chum with the rich man
Will we always have money to spare
Will they have respect for the hobo
In that land that lies hidden up there?

Will there be any freight trains in heaven
Any boxcars in which we might hide
Will there by any tough cops or brakemen
Will they tell us that we cannot ride?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-U1C1j-0Vo