[1] Headed down south to the [5] land of the pines
I'm [6m] thumbin' my way to [4] North Caroline
[1] Starin' up the road and [5] pray to God I see [4] headlights
[1] I made it down the coast in [5] seventeen hours
[6m] Pickin' me a bouquet of [4] dogwood flowers
And I'm a-[1]-hopin' for Raleigh I can [5] see my baby [4] tonight

So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama any way you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me

Runnin' from the cold up in New England
I was born to be a fiddler in an old-time string band
My baby plays the guitar I pick a banjo now
Ah the North country winters keep a-gettin' me
And I lost my money playin' poker so I had to up and leave
But I ain't a-turnin' back to livin' that old life no more

Walkin' due south out of Roanoke
I caught a trucker out of Philly had a nice long toke
But he's a-headed West from the Cumberland Gap to Johnson City Tennessee
And I gotta get a move on before the sun
I hear my baby callin' my name and I know that she's the only one
And if I die in Raleigh at least I will die free