[Intro]
Here's a fairground song, a carnival song... Just a root... A "root" song
[Verse 1]
Oh, it's all up from Florida at the start of the spring
The trucks and the trailers will be winding
Like a bullet we'll shoot for the carnival route
We're following them dusty old fairgrounds a-callin'
[Verse 2]
From the Michigan mud past the Wisconsin sun
'Cross that Minnesota border, keep 'em scramblin'
Through the clear county lakes and the lumberjack lands
We're following them dusty old fairgrounds a-calling
[Verse 3]
Hit Fargo on the jump and down to Aberdeen
'Cross them old Black Hills, keep 'em rollin'
Through the cow country towns and the sands of old Montana
We're following them fairgrounds a-callin'
[Harmonica Solo]
[Verse 4]
As the white line on the highway sails under your wheels
I gazed from the trailer window laughin'
Oh, our clothes they was torn but the colors they was bright
Following them dusty old fairgrounds a-callin'
[Verse 5]
It's a-many a friend that follows the bend
The jugglers, the hustlers, the gamblers
Well, I've spent my time with the fortune-telling kind
Following them fairgrounds a-callin'
[Harmonica Solo]
[Verse 6]
Oh, it's pound down the rails and it's tie down the tents
Get that canvas flag a-flyin'
Well, let the caterpillars spin, let the ferris wheel wind
Following them fairgrounds a-callin'
[Verse 7]
Well, it's roll into town straight to the fairgrounds
Just behind the posters that are hangin'
And it's fill up every space with a different kind of face
Following them fairgrounds a-callin'
[Harmonica Solo]
[Verse 8]
Get the dancin' girls in front, get the gamblin' show behind
Hear that old music box a-bangin'
Hear them kids, faces, smiles, up and down the midway aisles
We're following them fairgrounds a-callin'
[Verse 9]
It's a-drag it on down by the deadline in the town
Hit the old highway by the morning
And it's ride yourself blind for the next town on time
Followin' them fairgrounds a-callin'
[Verse 10]
As the harmonicas whined in the lonesome nighttime
Drinkin' red wine as we're rollin'
Many a turnin' I turn, many a lesson I learn
From following them fairgrounds a-callin'
[Verse 11]
And it's roll back down to St. Petersburg
Tie down the trailers and camp 'em
And the money that we made will pay for the space
From following them dusty old fairgrounds a-callin'
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