Sittin' by a campfire eatin' old pork and meats

Waitin' on an old slow freight headin' south to New Orleans

They say it's warm and there's a hot a pretty Creol queen

So I'm leavin' this poor north so cold and eatin' shramps instead of beans

Just like old Frank sittin' there by me the fire was dying neath the pot

And his hands so old tremble from the cold a scene I've never forgot

He said son go on home to your mama before you wind up like me

Hurtin' everyone else includin' yourself don't waste your life foolishly

I could see the tears filling his eyes as he handed me a picture faded bad

And as the angel of death took his last breath

There's standing by me in the picture I could see old
Frank and it was sign of death