Oh it's fare thee well, my own true love
I'm a-leavin' in the first hour of the morn
I'm bound off for the Bay of Mexico
Or maybe the coast of Cal-i-forn
So it's fare thee well, my own true love
We'll meet another day, another time
It's not the leavin' that's a-grievin' me
But my true love who's bound to stay behind

Oh the weather is against me and the wind blows hard
And the rain she's a-turnin' into hail
I still might strike it lucky on a highway goin' west
Though I'm travelin' on a lonesome trail

I will write you a letter from time to time
As I'm ramblin' you can travel with me, too
With my head, my heart and my hands, my love
I will send what I learn back home to you
So it's fare thee well my own true love
We'll meet another day, another time
It's not the leavin' that's a-grievin' me
But my true love who's bound to stay behind

I've heard tell of a town where I might as well be bound
It's down around the old Mexican plains
They say that the people all are friendly there
And all they ask of you is your name

I'll tell you of the laughter and the troubles
Be them somebody else's or my own
With my hands in my pockets and my coat collar high
I'll travel unnoticed and unknown
So it's fare thee well my own true love
We'll meet another day, another time
It's not the leavin' that's a-grievin' me
But my true love who's bound to stay behind