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