Hobo Bill's Last Ride by Jimmie Rodgers (1929)

[@snakemansnakes1]

I was a kid in Liverpool UK and my grandfather rebuilt an old windup gramophone for my 12th. birthday. We had some old acetate 78's which we used to play for laughs. (military marches and some old Hawaiian music.) One day I was at a loose end and found myself walking down a back alley behind my home. It was the day the local binman was calling to empty bins and some houses had put some stuff out, just next to their bins. I spotted a 78 record in it's original cardboard cover and I took it home. it was clean and in good condition. I played it on the old windup and it was Jimmie Rodgers singing Hobo Bill's Last Ride. I was mesmerised and had never heard anything like his mournful singing and yodelling. Some years later on I was in the British Army in Germany. There was an American Airforce outfit at our base and they had a services shop much like the British NAAFI. I was, by then a country music fan and this USAF shop stocked imported country music. I went there regularly to buy stuff. Jim Reeves, Hank Snow, Web Peirce, Hank Thompson, Ferlin Huskey, Hank Locklin, and Marty Robbins. I built up a good collection. I never forgot Jimmie Rodgers though and I was over the moon when I found some new RCA imports at the shop- A whole new remastering of Jimmies output had been reissued onto L.P's and I got the lot! Still got them all today, though I have JR on CD's now. I still have that old 78 I found too, a treasured item that started me off on a long and happy musical education. Many thanks for posting this song.

[@snakemansnakes1]

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@snakemansnakes1]

Many thanks for that little story Buzz.Fascinating stuff. Those tracks are great ones.. Gambling Barroom Blues is a favourite I love the mournful sound Jimmy managed to create on that recording.

[@snakemansnakes1]

I'm also a fan of Merle Haggard (RIP) and his Jimmie Rodgers tribute album was exceptional. Still available on CD. Same Train A Different Time. A favourite on that one is California Blues.

[@mmmbrunommm3]

Thanks for sharing your story, pretty interesting. This man has fans all over the world

[@psychobillymaddog5466]

Belfast ni.

[@shawnd5484]

Johnny Cash said this was the first song he ever remembered hearing

[@timodewit306]

Shawn D first country song* He knew lots of gospel songs before that.

[@anitaarchibald6138]

Me too. I was 2 in 1953. My mom would play this song a lot. When I got old enough to understand it I would cry for Hobo Bill. lol Then she started playing Blood OnThe Saddle and that scarred me for life. hahaha Good memories.

[@INDYOSKARS]

Tex ole good ole Ritter lol !

[@raserandom4785]

Billy Murray Fan first of all Johnny cash isn’t ugly and even if he was it wouldn’t do anything to his amazing music and I doubt u ever even listened to one of his beautiful songs before

[@nyad.2427]

We love when you come here just because of that

[@cullenparker12]

This was the first song Johnny Cash heard on the radio. We miss you Mr. Cash

[@Klaudiart]

Never heard this

[@jflack6]

Awesome autobiography, too!

[@LuffyxNamiisathing]

Flower you obviously haven't read Johnny's book than

[@balladeer45]

then, not than

[@raserandom4785]

Billy Murray Fan u really have to reply to every comment sayin cash sucks even tho he clearly doesn’t u obviously don’t have a good taste in music

[@Potemkin0]

Simply brilliant. Today's so-called 'celebrities' could learn a great deal from such an unpretentious performer

[@daveerickson9524]

they could but they can't and won't

[@torrerodriguez3783]

jimmie Rodgers is the King of train songs

[@guillermoariasjr.6306]

The singing brakeman

[@tedmccarron]

WAS the king of train songs...

[@bsnf-5]

Doc Watson too

[@Ekkie101]

Rodgers was prophetic with this song and others (including "Waiting For a Train - 1928). This precedes the crash of October '29 and the Great Depression of the thirties when the real hardships began.

[@gunnarthefeisty]

This sort of life had been around for years by 1929. It was nothing new when the depression started.

[@fractalevision3754]

I'm poor and alone but i listen Jimmie Rodgers ! Happy new year !

[@JacobTanks]

You’re not alone, bro!

[@lyonsdenno1]

If that song doesn't break your heart or cause a tear to flow you don't have a heart-have heard this all my life and I can still imagine Hobo Bill on that train.

[@billynomates6602]

Heard it first through a Hank Snow version. Found Jimmie Rodgers much later. Great C&W music acts like a prayer - It makes you better.

[@justincb5193]

It is such a sad song. Goodbye Hobo Bill. (or H-oh-oh B-oh-oh Bi-lee[If you go by the yodeling pronunciation])

[@Cuzbro100]

First time I heard it my dad and his brother was doing it back in the 60s but Hank Snows version was the first professionally released version of it I heard. Jim Reeves also did a version of it. Dad told me that Jimmy originally released it.

[@scottwallace3549]

I'm only 59 so I can't say for sure that this was the best song ever written, but it's definitely on my short list.

[@jamiewalker9258]

I am 60 years old.I remember my dad playing those old 78s.thank you for making it possible for me to listen to these songs again. Tears in my eyes.Love that Jimmie Rodgers

[@eugenieviener103]

Ditto!

[@jamesmasterson1850]

This song inspired me to learn to play the guitar in 1962. Always been one of my favorites. Lots of stories I could relate, but not today.

[@reejones1713]

This is the greatest song I know.

[@jackstraw262]

Marry me 💍

[@TrumpWasRightAboutEverything]

Then you're awesome.

[@bsnf-5]

Good choice

[@simonnott]

The first song Johnny Cash ever heard on the family's first radio.

[@tedmccarron]

I heard that he heard it on his family's victrola record.

[@busterbrown3706]

Talent is talent no matter when it was.

[@karencaudill4805]

buster brown absolutely! We are blessed to have the old music and the newer music

[@kennaweaver7062]

My Father used to play and sing this song when I was a kid, 1944. Always loved it. True Country. Since then I've always loved country music. Love the sad songs !!

[@earlslot8320]

i was born in 44, and still love this music

[@trickster_zxz2701]

this type of music is real, not this garbage that is spewed out

[@bshuler2185]

Love that train whistle- Jimmy did that himself- sounds good!

[@donaldwcarr7891]

I was wondering if the train whistle was made with harmonica.

[@barreltapper]

Jimmie Rodgers plaintive voice touches raw nerves you never even knew you had.

[@swhite7111]

My Dad would play an album by him in the 60s when I was a little boy. My mom hated it, but Dad loved it. He was also from Mississippi just like Jimmie ... but from Philadelphia MS where I was born when he sent my mom with family when he was being transferred in the Navy. So I grew fond of Jimmie's music...especially this song

[@jimmyjennings4089]

did you picture in your mind hobo bill laying in an old boxcar dead and shed a tear? if so that's the power of this song by Jimmy Rogers.

[@capehorner1940]

I will remember this song from when I was a young lad in the Falkland Islands. My adopted Father Ron Clarke got me to go and get this man who had come to Stanley fram tghe farms.He sang this song.I can still hear him singing it

[@tedmccarron]

Do you remember the Falkland Islands war?

[@stonemagic540]

back in the 50s my daddy use to strum and sing hobo bill on his gibson..never forgot..

[@LaidIsGentleMen]

I love Jimmie's voice on this recording. Very tender and touching. Sounds a little like Dylan in the late sixties.

[@allenbooth5193]

It could be that Jimmie Rodgers influenced Bob Dylan somewhat.

[@cherylfitzgerald2790]

my dear Daddy​ rest in peace.this was your music. I love you and I cherish these old songs you used to sing.if only I could hear you sing again. I will when we meet in heaven. I love you.

[@South3West77]

I run across a fella few decades ago an ole southern musician. He detested Jimmie Rodgers. I Was stunned, I ask him Why. He said when he was a lil fellar, his mom's milk cow was absconded by Jimmie Rodgers.!! My grandmother loved his music, my father was named after him. Great artist. Died way to young.

[@CrampedGrampy]

Me again. Don't get to listen to Jimmy Rogers as was used to do but I don't love his music and him any less now at age 85. Rogers is one of my all-time favorites. Sing on Jimmy.

[@chiakakelechi1037]

There can never be any modern music that can compare with these very old classics even though one didn't live in that era. The voice, the calmness, the imagination and the memories are all just incomparable and so sweet. You wish were there then.

[@arinvests]

Ilove this old song, Still enjoying Jimmie's songs 82 years after he left us so soon ~ Arthur

[@rothlis18]

what poetry

[@lavonnacasey5724]

Townes Van Zandt does a wonderful cover of Hobo Bill.

[@CrampedGrampy]

Now I am 78, I yet enjoy listening to Jimmy Rogers; only because of a friend mentioning Jimmy to me in 1959 was he made known to me. Mom played Hank W., Hank S. and others when I was a boy_ Jimmy Rodgers was totally unknown, I guess, to me mother. My loss. Great lyrics well sung.

[@richardschock4220]

Interesting, the "first song i ever heard" was while I was in my shell in the Allentown General Hospital -- pediatric division -- and Buffalo Springfield was performing at The Great Allentown Fair across the street, playing "Soul Man" which motivated and inspired me to start pounding on the walls of my shell and break out cuz I wanted to hear more classics!

[@lucagray6397]

I found a copy of this on 78 at an old antique store... pretty pleased

[@KentDunn2516]

his hobo songs told many stories

[@superman1148]

I'll never forget the first time I heard this. I was about 6 or 7 and didn't fully understand it but it stopped me dead in my tracks. I knew it was good, just didn't know how good until I was old enough to understand it better.

[@lauriegreen3341]

great song,, my two passions,, railways and country music

[@adalbertotrevor6461]

Hi there?

[@garyolsen3409]

Amen brother

[@robertparker8484]

I think I was 8 when I heard this song for the first time, and cried because of the loneliness of it. Ime 70 now and just played it for my wife and grandson, she instantly said that it was the lonliest song ever. But it tells a story and that's what sets country and bluegrass apart. Ray Charles said "I love the stories those cats write."

[@bigmomma3265]

This is my most favorite song!! I relate to Hobo Bill a lot.

[@youwillnotknowmyname840]

Jimmie, you are the one of the greatest country singers! The King! PS how does he do that train sound with his mouth that is crazy!?

[@tedmccarron]

I read on a another KZbin thread that he hummed and whistled at the same time to make that sound.

[@olddogcitypound5859]

R.I.P. STOBE THE HOBO may peace be with you my friend ✌

[@tedmccarron]

"Peace."

[@jackstraw262]

Darkest hours of the jimmie Rodgers comments over here and there’s no beer store to be found

[@dixieboy5689]

Old rail rider smiles on us all.

[@jeanricketts6880]

What is haunting Melody I remember hearing this when I was 15 AR 16 you never forget Jimmy Rogers song wonderful thank you

[@didilajousky]

words fail every time trying to describe this. Jimmie is was and always will be my hero. Thanks Jimmie for such powerful and raw lyrics

[@zerbinettabelling5135]

Beautiful old songs ant artists. My dad loved this music in his days over 60 years ago and still it enchants us today too. wish there are more of these artists today

[@hankshwank9113]

I've been watching the Ken Burns special on country music and think Jimmie Rodgers was the best. Well Johnny Cash too. :)

[@INDYOSKARS]

*"Hey, hey hey, let´s go to town !"* -James Charles Rodgers, guitar picker, banjo plucker. uke player, Hawaiian steel player and yodeler.

[@saullouis]

Probably around 1962 I first heard Jimmy Rogers, my older brother brought home a record or two. I think it would be wonderful if radios played him and Woody and James P and others from that era. What amazing talent. What beautiful stuff. Such underproduced wonders.

[@mr.warmth1511]

he was featured in the first video in 1928

[@mikemarthaller8789]

My father "Rode the rails" as a kid . 1930"s It was a tough life. He talked about the difference between a HOBO, Which he was and a BUM. The Hobo wanted work and had pride. The Bum he said only wanted a hand OUT, The Hobo wanted a hand UP , As I work with homeless people I ask are they Hobo or Bum.

[@gregorysullivan9371]

simple, evocative, wonderfuly lonesome. thank you

[@generalpatzer6893]

This was the first song I ever heard as an embryo.

[@lawrencechandler7704]

in i.have.all.of.his.lps.and.some.of.his.78s.he.is.great.i.am.58.i.head.him.all.my.life love.most.of.jimmie.songs

[@INDYOSKARS]

I love them ALL.

[@Cuzbro100]

Ole Hobo inspired a lot of artists, both country and rock If youre ever in Meridian, MS, they have a museum there of Jimmy. He and The Carter Family are the reason Bristol is called the Birthplace of Country Music.

[@JoeDoggTV]

+Cuzbro100 I live in Bristol :0

[@Cuzbro100]

+joerover22 Yea according to Johnny Cash, Jimmie cut his first record in Bristol the same day the Carter Family cut their first record there.

[@JoeDoggTV]

Cuzbro100 Cool! I am learning about all this in school right now.. taking some Appalachian courses at university. Specializing in it because I needed some extra credits to graduate this spring :[]

[@indian23hhs]

Townes brought me hear. You can definitely hear how much JR influenced Hank Sr.

[@TonySkyRush]

Jimmy inspired a generation of youthful aspiring artists. He was a legend and I discovered him by being a Lynyrd Skynyrd fan who redid "T for Texas" and also wrote the "Hobo Song" inspired by Jimmie Rodgers who they mention in the song.

[@General_Alek]

Hi Lupo

[@karriewood7404]

I still have the album in working condition and play it regularly. I've been lucky to have heard it played many many times by my grandpa who left it to my mom who in turn has given it to me. I just had a birthday and turned 54 years young. I love every song on the album with a special affinity to hobo Bill.

[@jamiemartin1793]

Old school country. Good stuff.

[@johnhedges235]

Thank you so much. Wow, if he only had the new recording technology. It still sounded great. RIP Jimmie!

[@Longhammer37214]

I can tell you without a doubt John Cash's favorite singer was Jimmie Rodgers.

[@treystewart2708]

Jimmie Rodgers was hard to beat ! Like Hank Williams he influenced alot of people !

[@E621_Rule34]

Hank snow, hank williams, johnny cash and i think woody guthrie were all influenced by him

[@bsnf-5]

Merle Haggard said that Jimmie Rodgers influenced him big time

[@paulsnider9208]

If Bob Wills is still the king (as Waylon Jennings wrote), then surely that makes Jimmie Rodgers some kinda God.

[@anitaarchibald6138]

LOL

[@INDYOSKARS]

Well ole son, there are more than one king & kingdoms, right ?

[@lawrencelewis8105]

@@INDYOSKARS yes, but we are monotheistic. You do know that Jesus played the dobro?

[@clintwalls5217]

Mississippi Blue Yodeler!!, Jimmie Rodgers.👋🙏.

[@johnjurkewicz9925]

👍👍It so great 👍👍

[@actofautumn3331]

He loved that one riff

[@miroslavloncar8857]

Ultimate hero.Recommend " Meeting Jimmie Rodgers"(book).Amazing.

[@bigfootbillunknown9511]

Being named Bill, this song caught my imagination as a little boy. As the song played, it wasn't hard to pretend being right in that Boxcar.

[@krcsr178]

back in the 50s I grew up on the south side of Pgh. up 32nd st. in what was & is know as hunky hollow. we live close to the rail road, my Dad found a hobo's mark on our house, my Mom would feed any one that came to our door asking for a meal. well he wiped it off but with in a few days it was back on.

[@lawrencelewis8105]

Spiffy Model A Ford! The music's superb too!

[@johndoylemc]

Recorded Nov 13, 1929 - New Orleans, Louisiana. Released Aug. 1, 1930 on Victor 224218.

[@crafter170]

The first song Johnny cash heard when his families first radio arrived.

[@Dave49erman]

Johnny Cash brought me here...what a great song! Better late than never.

[@karlamaravi3298]

i strangly like this song

[@rcp1936]

Such a sad song--really eats at you

[@billbright1755]

It’s the decent way for a Bo to go home to the by and by. The Milwaukee Road Lombard Montana.

[@norbertoguadagni9331]

¡Muchas gracias por acercarnos estas joyas!

[@kaushikrahman448]

Hobo Bill-why Riding on that eastbound freight train speeding through the night Hobo Bill a railroad bum was fighting for his life The sadness of his eyes revealed the torture of his soul He raised a weak and weary hand to brush away the cold Hobo Bill No warm lights flickered round him no blankets there to hold Nothing but the howling wind and the driving rain so cold When he heard a whistle blowing in a dreamy kind of way The hobo seemed contented for he smiled there where he lay Hobo Bill Outside the rain was falling on that lonely boxcar door But the little form of Hobo Bill lay still upon the floor While the train sped through the darkness and the raging storm outside No one knew that Hobo Bill was taking his last ride It was early in the morning when they raised the hobo's head The smile still lingered on his face but Hobo Bill was dead There was no mother's longing to soothe his weary soul For he was just a railroad bum who died out in the cold

[@giovanniiorio2170]

Ty...now I can sing it.

[@ronaldmullins8445]

Thank you so much for posting this song. Otherwise I would’ve missed parts of it. Thank you 🙏

[@jerrymcjunkin8398]

Genius in him time thanks Jim I 👍 like the song 🎵 👌 rest RIP to you sir 🙏!!++

[@Buggy-zu9zw]

Jimmy could relate to the song as he was also fighting for his life with Tuberculosis.

[@sakibear4478]

We are all gonna take that Last Ride someday just some peoples don’t know it yet.

[@lemanwilson1281]

Anyone interested in reading all about all these old time artist can do so by getting this book (Country Music Originals) writtin by Tony Russell. There are over 125 people listed in the book.LHW

[@INDYOSKARS]

First time I heard this song I was ´stunned´, listened to it ´stunned´.

[@clintwalls5217]

Love & Miss you Sir!!👋😀

[@davidmcdonald1600]

Thanks to Ralph Peer at Victor

[@jcm330]

I too was brought here by Johnny Cash...what a co-incidence

[@misterwhitman4368]

I was a wandering bum for over twenty years!

[@David-yw2lv]

In his heyday,he was the scongtbest selling recording artist after the man who wrote & recorded My Blue Heaven.

[@MooPotPie]

This is nitpicking, but Cash said in a 1994 interview that he heard the record on the family's Victrola when he was about four years old, not on the radio.

[@psychobillymaddog5466]

The singing brakeman...2017....

[@tpxchallenger]

Some of the guys he learned to play from must have been Civil War Vets. Think about that, you white Americans, and celebrate your heritage and history. I don't mean anything racist by that I'm just saying that cool music came from all over the USA, not strictly limited to the geniuses of black Americans (and there were many). You can really see where Woody Guthrie got his chops in this one.

[@anthony-ob6lw]

I only like when he says hobo billy

[@grantryder3608]

Did you know that this was the first song Johnny cash ever heard ? It converted him to country music.

[@MikeDial]

Dwight Yoakam's "I Sang Dixie" could have been inspired by this song.

[@l.salisbury1253]

According to a new Johnny Ca$h bio the was the first-ever song he ever heard on the radio...!

[@GTASEIRES123]

This is the song that made Johnny Cash a musician

[@charlesjenkins615]

You can't touch that!!🥲😊👍👏👏✌️

[@FlyingFoxFruits]

kind of make u wanna cry tho...

[@YoGrandTheftAuto]

Johnny Cash

[@TheTwoshoes4u]

Jimmie inspired Ole Hank. It's the Real Deal...moan' country/mountain folk.

[@adalbertotrevor6461]

Hi there?

[@elmerlarimer9026]

chasles a larimer 1911-2002

[@bsnf-5]

"It might not have been a Merle or a Willie If not for Django *and* Jimmie" . . .

[@Klaudiart]

Someone posted this.

[@supersandwitch14]

Hobo Bill is Harry Mcclintock, lol.

[@diegos.loayza3706]

Im quite new on county music; folk; americana; bluegrass etc. Im not american. And im wondering is this country or folk? Another question i want to hear stuff like this: old recordings of folk and country music. I want to know other artists like this from 1900 to 1940.

[@richardwarren8138]

There is a thin and blurred line between this style of "country music" and the popular notion of folk music, so you could make a good argument either way about the music of Jimmie Rodgers. Most of his recorded songs were written by himself, his sister or other song writers. But some are also taken directly from or are influenced by folk music, with which he was undoubtedly familiar. Old recordings of music from the early 1900s is hard to find. The first recording of Jimmie Rodgers was made by a man named Ralph Peer, who was seeking to record some of the music of the rural South for RCA Victor. His "discovery" of Rodgers and of the Carter Family at a special session in Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee in 1927, led to recordings of them and are probably the first recordings of American "country" music. So, you are not likely to find any recordings of this style of music made before 1927. The only other signer of similar songs around that time that I can think of is Woody Guthrie. I am sure there were lots more and also sure that many of them never made any recordings.

[@waltercrider1289]

@@richardwarren8138 Also Uncle Dave Macon was in the early to mid 20"s.

[@cartermorey8647]

so long ago

[@finnfoley8616]

Can anybody tell me about the train whistle at the end? I'm curious if its a real whistle or the trick some vocalists can do with there throat.

[@djaltbaculalay]

It's done by whistling and singing in falsetto at the same time.