My old man had a rounder's soul
He'd hear an old freight train
Then he'd have to goSaid he'd been blessed with a gypsy bone
That's the reason they guessed
He'd been cursed to roamCame into town back before the war
Didn't even know what it was
He was looking forCarried a tattered bag for his violin
It was full of lots of songs
Of places that he'd beenHe talked real easy, had a smiling way
To pass along to you
When his fiddle playedMaking people drop their cares and woes
To hum out loud those tunes
That his fiddle bowedTill the people there began to join that sound
And everyone in town was laughing
Singing, dancing roundLike the fiddler's tune
Was all they heard that night
As if some dream said
"All the world is right"His fiddler's eye caught one beauty there
She had that rollin', flowin'
Golden kind of hairHe played for her as if she danced alone
Played his favorite songs
Ones he called his ownHe played until she was the last to go
Stopped and packed his case
And said he'd take her homeAll the nights that passed a child was born
All the years that passed
That love would keep them warmAll their lives they'd share a dream come true
All because she danced
While his fiddle tunedMy old man had a rounder's soul
He'd hear an old freight train
Then he'd have to goAll that I recall said when I was so young
There's no one else could really
Sing those songs he sung