He was born on a west Texas Highway|Somewhere near Abilene |His daddy went to seek the California gold rush |His mama raised him alone||Times were hard |Mama worked the diner|At night she'd rock him|Singing lalalalalalala |Your daddy's gone to seek great fortune|It won't be long till he calls for us|Lalalalalalalalala |Lalalalalalalalala|||Mornin paper read |49'ers mine collapsed|100 men presumed dead|Mama cried when she got the Telegraph|Lalalalalalalalala|Your daddy's gone to seek great fortune|It won't be long till he calls for us|Lalalalalalalalala |Lalalalalalalalala||Well bury him near west Texas Highway|Somewhere near Abilene|Lalalalalalalalala||Your daddy's gone to seek great fortune|It won't be long till he calls for us|Lalalalalalalalala||Lalalalalalalalala|Your daddy's gone ... to seek great fortune.