Cindy Mangsen sang this song for me a few years ago. I was immensely taken with the song and her singing of it.
This old mandolin is carved out of Pine,
It was given to me by a hobo down the line,
Willed to me with these last words:
"Before I cross over, I'll show you some chords.
This old mandolin is made out of earth and of stone:
If the sound of the railroad leaves you feeling all alone,
This old mandolin will take a hobo back home.
This old mandolin is sure full of sand,
It'll play out-of-tune if there's a cop on the train,
Sing you the rhythm of the Superchief out of St. Paul
And that ain't all.
This old mandolin'll make a young girl open her window
Like a warm breeze on a rainy night,
And like a hex-sign on a barn,
This old mandolin will keep a hobo from harm.
This old mandolin is made out of old barns and watertanks,
If the jukebox is busted and you need an old song,
This old mandolin will take a hobo back home.