Hobo Bills Last Ride
View chords used in this chart
verse 1
C G C
Ho-o-bo-o Billy.
F C F C
Riding on the eastbound freight train, speeding through the night,
F C D7 G
Hobo Bill, a railroad bum, was fighting for his life.
F C F C
The sadness of his eyes revealed the torture of his soul.
F C G C
He raised a weak and weary hand to brush away the coal.
verse 2
C G C
Ho-o-bo-o Billy.
F C F C
No warm lights flickered around him, no blankets there to fold,
F C D7 G
Nothing but the howling wind and the driving rain so cold.
F C F C
When he heard a whistle blowing in a dreamy kind of way,
F C G C
The hobo seemed contented, for he smiled there where he lay.
verse 3
C G C
Ho-o-bo-o Bill.
F C F C
Outside the rain was falling on that lonely boxcar door,
F C D7 G
But the little form of Hobo Bill lay still upon the floor.
F C F C
While the train sped through the darkness and the raging storm outside,
F C G C
No one knew that Hobo Bill was taking his last ride.
WHISTLE SOUNDS
C G C
verse 4
C F C F C
It was early in the morning when they raised the hobo’s head.
F C D7 G
The smile still lingered on his face but Hobo Bill was dead.
F C F C
There was no mother’s longing to soothe his weary soul,
F C G C
For he was just a railroad bum who died out in the cold.
WHISTLE SOUNDS
C
How to play Hobo Bills Last Ride
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is C. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.