From the recording A Hobo's Life For Me
Music by Che and Indigo Prasad
Lyrics by Che Prasad
Performed by the Shark Alley Hobos
Cover art and layout by Smokey Joe (Ken Jacobs)
Cover photo by Bridget Canfield
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dumpstah Dave (Dave Bell), Bellboy Recording Studio, Richmond CA
Lyrics
There was a sailor boy. His name was Mikie Lee
They say he held his first guitar when he was only three
I’ll live a life that’s free
A Hobo’s life!
It will be a Hobo’s life for me
He charted his own course, then he set to sea
“A doctor, a lawyer—those things I’ll never be”
I’ll live a life that’s free
A Hobo’s life!
It will be a Hobo’s life for me
He gathered up his crew, from places near and wide
Sang his songs from port to port, his brother by his side
I’ll live a life that’s free
A Hobo’s life!
It will be a Hobo’s life for me
Squinty had a voice, a talent that he saw
“Sing with me whene’er you can, now go and practice law”
I’ll live a life that’s free
A Hobo’s life!
It will be a Hobo’s life for me
Jackson he was down, down in the bottom end
“Get a wife and change your life, we’ll still play on my friend”
I’ll live a life that’s free
A Hobo’s life!
It will be a Hobo’s life for me
Bongo banged his drums, swimming in his dram
“Of all the crew, just Bongo knew what happened in Japan”
I’ll live a life that’s free
A Hobo’s life!
It will be a Hobo’s life for me
A barber by his trade, Mr. Seamus and his grin
“Keep good time while drinking wine, shave whiskers from my chin”
I’ll live a life that’s free
A Hobo’s life!
It will be a Hobo’s life for me
John Howard wore a beard, and played the slide guitar
“You write a tune to make ‘em swoon, I’ll meet you at the bar”
I’ll live a life that’s free
A Hobo’s life!
It will be a Hobo’s life for me
The crew they had a home, the port-o-Dumpsta Dave
“Record these songs and tell my tale with pennies that I save”
I’ll live a life that’s free
A Hobo’s life!
It will be a Hobo’s life for me
Hobito was not young, but still a cabin boy
“You lost my dog but that’s OK, I still will you employ”
I’ll live a life that’s free
A Hobo’s life!
It will be a Hobo’s life for me
The man behind lens, Blood Pisser is the name
“Preserve our Hobo history and take some of the blame”
I’ll live a life that’s free
A Hobo’s life!
It will be a Hobo’s life for me
A mortal wound it was, and now it won’t be long
He told his men with hanging heads “You all must carry on”
His crew they gathered ‘round, as he slipped into the sea
Farewell to our captain Mikie Lee
I’ll live a life that’s free
A Hobo’s life!
It will be a Hobo’s life for me