traveling man

the man i loved ran a salesman route

selling goods from house to house

now i knew my mama would never stand

for me stepping out with no traveling man

mama bought things that he was a'selling

but mama didn't know and i sure wasn't telling

that behind her back i was making plans

to meet somewhere with that traveling man

oh the traveling man was a good bit older

but a girl needs arms to hold her

mama didn't know 'cause i didn't told her

but mama wouldn't understand

me stepping out with a traveling man

mama didn't allow me a'going courting

and i'd tell lies that i reckon i oughtn't

oh but she'd a'give me the back a' her hand

if she'd a'seen me with that traveling man

so i tell my mama that i reckon i oughta

go to the spring and fetch us some water

what mama didn't know is i had a plan

to meet down there with that traveling man

now i make plans to run away

with that traveling man on a saturday

well saturday's here and here i stand

and there goes my mama with that traveling man

oh that traveling man was a two-time lover

he took my love then he took my mother

but i didn't know 'cause mama didn't told me and i don't understand

my mama running off with my traveling man

mama

you know you oughtn't a'done that

you just like my daddy

he run off before i ever knowed him

you done run-off with my traveling man

and i really don't think i ever knowed you either

oh there goes my mama with my traveling man

and i'm really gonna miss that traveling man

mm-hm