Oh, the path was deep and wide From footsteps leading to our cabin Above the door, there burned a scarlet lamp And late at night, a hand would knock
And there would stand a stranger Yes, I´m the son of Hickory Holler´s tramp
The corn was dry and the weeds were high when Daddy took to drinking Him and Lucy Walker, they took up and ran away Mama cried a tear and then she promised fourteen children "I swear you´ll never see a hungry day." When Mama sacrificed her pride, the neighbors started talking But I was much too young to understand the things they said The thing that mattered most of all was Mama´s chicken dumplings And a goodnight kiss before we went to bed
Oh, the path was deep and wide From footsteps leading to our cabin Above the door, there burned a scarlet lamp And late at night, a hand would knock And there would stand a stranger Yes, I´m the son of Hickory Holler´s tramp
When Daddy left and destitution came upon our family Not one neighbor volunteered to give a helping hand So just let ´em gossip all they want, she loved us and she raised us The proof is standing here, a full grown man
Last summer Mama passed away and left the ones who loved her
Each and every one is more than grateful for their birth Each Sunday, she receives a fresh bouquet of fourteen roses And a card that reads "The Greatest Mom on Earth"
Oh, the path was deep and wide From footsteps leading to our cabin Above the door, there burned a scarlet lamp And late at night, a hand would knock And there would stand a stranger Yes, I´m the son of Hickory Holler´s tramp Yea, I´m the son of Hickory Holler´s tramp