©1971 by Gordon Lightfoot
He was standin by the highway
With a sign that just said mother
When he heard a driver comin
bout a half a mile away
Then he held the sign up higher
So no decent soul could miss it
It was ten degrees or colder
Down by bolder dam that day
He was raised up in milwaukee
Though he never was that famous
He was just a road musician
To the taverns he would go
Singin songs about the ramblin
The lovin girls and gamblin
How the world fell on his shoulders
Back in boulder I dont know
It was out in arizona
That he heard the lady listenin
To each word that he was sayin
To each line that he would write
So he sat down by her table and
They talked about the weather
Ninety-eight point six and risin
Down by boulder dam that night
And she told him she would take him
For a ride in the mornin sun
Back in boulder he had told her
I dont know when I had a better friend
Now hes traded off his martin
But his troubles are not over
For his feet are almost frozen
And the sun is sinkin low
Wont you listen to me brother
If you ever loved your mother
Please pull off on the shoulder
If youre goin milwaukee way
Its ten degrees and getting colder
Down by boulder dam today
He was standin by the highway
With a sign that just said mother
When he heard a driver comin
bout a half a mile away
Then he held the sign up higher
So no decent soul could miss it
It was ten degrees or colder
Down by bolder dam that day
He was raised up in milwaukee
Though he never was that famous
He was just a road musician
To the taverns he would go
Singin songs about the ramblin
The lovin girls and gamblin
How the world fell on his shoulders
Back in boulder I dont know
It was out in arizona
That he heard the lady listenin
To each word that he was sayin
To each line that he would write
So he sat down by her table and
They talked about the weather
Ninety-eight point six and risin
Down by boulder dam that night
And she told him she would take him
For a ride in the mornin sun
Back in boulder he had told her
I dont know when I had a better friend
Now hes traded off his martin
But his troubles are not over
For his feet are almost frozen
And the sun is sinkin low
Wont you listen to me brother
If you ever loved your mother
Please pull off on the shoulder
If youre goin milwaukee way
Its ten degrees and getting colder
Down by boulder dam today