The corn was dry
The weeds were high
When daddy took to drinking
Then him and Lucy Walker
They took up and ran away
Mama cried a tear
And then she promised
Fourteen children
I swear you'll never see
A hungry day
Oh, the path was deep and wide
From footsteps leading to our cabin
Above the door
There burned the scarlet lamp
And late at night
A hand would knock
And there would stand a stranger
Yes, I'm the son
Of Hickory Hollow's tramp
When mama sacrificed her pride
The neighbors started talking
But I was much too young to understand
The things they said
The things that mattered most of all
Was mama's chicken dumplings
And the goodnight kiss
Before we went to bed
Oh the path was deep and wide
From footsteps leading to our cabin
Above the door
There burned the scarlet lamp
And late at night
A hand would knock
And there would stand a stranger
Yes, I'm the son
Of Hickory Hollow's tramp
When daddy left then destitution
Came upon our family
Not one neighbor volunteered
To give a helping hand
So let them gossip all they want
She loved us and she raised us
The proof is standing here
A full grown man
Last summer mama passed away
And left the ones who loved her
Each and every one of us
Were more than grateful for our birth
Now every Sunday she receives
A fresh bouquet of fourteen roses
With a card that says
"To the greatest mom on earth"
Oh the path was deep and wide
From footsteps leading to our cabin
Above the door
There burned the scarlet lamp
And late at night
A hand would knock
And there would stand a stranger
Yes, I'm the son
Of Hickory Hollow's tramp
Yes, I'm the son
Of Hickory Hollow's tramp