the corn was dry the weeds were high when daddy took to drinkin' then him and lucy walker they took up and run away mama cried a tear and then she promised fourteen children I swear you'll never see a hungry day when mama sacrificed her pride the neighbours started talkin' but I was much too young to understand a thing they said the things that mattered most of all was mama's chicken dumplin's and a 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 a scarlet lamp and late at night a hand would knock and there would stand a stranger yes, I'm the son of hickory holler's tramp when daddy left and destitution came upon our family not one neighbour volunteered to give a helpin' hand so let 'em gossip all they want she loved us and she raised us the proof is standin' here a full grown man last summer mama passed away and left the ones who loved her each and every one was more than grateful for their birth each sunday she receives a fresh bouquet of fourteen roses and a card that says the greatest mum on earth oh, the path was deep and wide from footsteps leading to our cabin above the door there burned a scarlet lamp and late at night a hand would knock and there would stand a stranger yes, I'm the son of hickory holler's tramp oh, the path was deep and wide from footsteps leading to our cabin above the door there burned a scarlet lamp and late at night a hand would knock and there would stand a stranger yes, I'm the son of hickory holler's tramp oh, the path was deep and wide from footsteps leading to our cabin above the door there burned a scarlet