west • williams • bare
This song was made famous by Bobby Bare, and in many ways a commercial international breakthrough for both the artist and country music. But he didn't write the song. He had some influence, and he's credited on the the label of both the RCA 1963 single and album. But in fact it is a remake of Hedy West's "500 Miles" with enhanced lyrics and arrangement.
The "500 Miles" song is often also credited Curly Williams along with Hedy West - but, gimme a break; this song is close related to the traditional "900 Miles", which has branches to both "Reuben's Train" and "Train 45", also traditional. And the melody is almost identical with “You’ll Never Miss Your Mother Till She’s Gone", written by Harry Birch[Charles A. White] and recorded by Fiddlin' John Carson as early as 1923 ... sometimes, crediting is quite random.
The song has been recorded by Bill Anderson, Glen Campbell, Jerry Reed, Priestie Boys, Lonnie Donegan, Gene Vincent, Joe Simon and a lot of others: in 1995 Reba McEntire cut a final version, adding a lost verse; excluding Bare's reciting part. My lyrics combine them.
teardrops fell on mama's note
when I read the things she wrote
she said "we miss you son, we love you: come on home"
well I didn't have to pack
I had it all right on my back
now I'm five hundred miles away from home
it's hard to tell the state I'm in
where I'm goin' • where I've been
but there's a dream I've been followin' so long
if mama knew the things I've done
she'd forgive them ev'ryone
but I'm still five hundred miles away from home
I know this is the same coat
I took when I left home
but it sure looks different now
and I guess I look different too
but time changes everything
I wonder what they'll say
when they see their boy lookin' this way
oh I wonder what they'll say when I get home
can't remember when I ate
it's just thumb and walk and wait
and I'm still five hundred miles away from home
if my luck had been just right
I'd be with them all tonight
but I'm still five hundred miles away from home
away from home • away from home
cold and tired and all alone
yes I'm five hundred miles away from home
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
A teardrops fell on mama's note F#m when I read the things she wrote Bm Bm7 E she said "we miss you son, we love you: come on home" A well I didn't have to pack F#m I had it all right on my back Bm Bm7 D A A7 now I'm five hundred miles away from home D away from home away from home Bm cold and tired and all alone Em G D ... E yes I'm five hundred miles away from home
