"Big Country Blues" lyrics - TOWNES VAN ZANDT

Well, I been up the Mississippi to the Manitoba line
I've been downstream to the Gulf of Mexico
Followed the sun out west to Californ
And there just ain't no place left for me to go

Spent a lonesome month in Maine and a year in Louisian
Packed my bags and hit the Westward Trail
Rambled down through Texas 'til I came to El Paso
Spent a week in a stinkin' Juarez jail

Well, I rambled through Nevada gamblin' most of my life away
I headed north when I heard Dakota call
Well, I stayed until the Northers came rollin' down the line
I headed south when summer turned to fall

I've been north and east, south where the cotton grows
And out in the west where the sun forever shines
Well, I've bent my back for a dollar a day in a Texas sugar field
Labored in a Minnesota mine

Well, I've seen your hungry babies scream, I watched their mamas cry
Seen a worn out prostitute beg for a dime
I've seen men come out of gutters ready to give their lives away
For a slug at a lousy bottle of rot gut wine

I've been up the Mississippi to the Manitoba line
Downstream to the Gulf of Mexico
Followed the sun out west to Californ
And there just ain't no place left for me to go
Well, there just ain't no place left for me to go