He was standin' by the highway with a sign that just said Mother

When he heard a driver comin' 'Bout a half a mile away       

Then he held the sign up higher, Where no decent soul could miss it         

It was ten degrees or colder Down by bolder dam that day



He was raised up in Milwaukee-Though he never was that famous

He was just a road musician-To the taverns he would go

Singin' songs about the ramblin'-The lovin' girls and gamblin'

How the world fell on his shoulders-Back in Boulder I don't know



It was out in Arizona-That he heard the lady listenin

To each word that he was sayin'-To each line that he would write

So he sat down by her table and They talked about the weather

Ninety-eight point six and risin'-Down by Boulder dam that day



And she told him she would take him-For a ride

in the mornin' sun, Back in Boulder he had told her,

I don't know when I had a better friend



Now he's traded off his Martin-But his troubles are not over

For his feet are almost frozen-And the sun is sinkin' low

Won't you listen to me brother-If you ever loved your mother

Please pull off on the shoulder-If you're goin' Milwaukee way

It's ten degrees and getting colder-Down by Boulder dam today