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about

My maternal grandfather was a Wobbly, a member of the International Workers of the World (IWW) and used to tell us stories about his years organizing strikes and how to safely hop on and off moving trains. I was mesmerized by all his stories and was seriously jealous when my older brother began hopping trains in the 70s as he traveled across the country. I had already moved overseas and was hopping on and off planes (by buying tickets) and having different adventures. Before I moved overseas, my grandfather told me how jealous he was of me, of how much he always wished that he had turned left to Israel when he left Russia instead of turning right to the USA. Bottom line, our family has a lot of traveling in our DNA.

lyrics

HOBO GENES, By Joanie Calem © June 2000

Grampa rode the trains, from Mother Russia to the ship
That would take him across the sea to the new life waiting there.
Sixteen when he left behind the only world he knew
The oldest son who mourned a mother buried by her woman’s role.

Grampa rode the trains from that New York entry-port
His aunt’s address scribbled on a scrap of Yiddish book.
Shoved into his sweaty hand by his father in his good-bye,
A grim, tired man who knew he’d never see his first-born again.

CHORUS 1
But the young man faced the wind, The hobo genes burned in his blood
With the confidence of youth, He knew he’d find his way.

Grampa joined the Wobblies, it was time to change the world
But every cent he earned went to the family across the sea
Hopping trains from strike to strike, nights around the campfire
He learned the codes of when to jump to miss the rail-yard thugs.

Grampa had no sons, no heirs to ride the trains
His daughters sang the union songs and married restless men.
The grandkids came of age, the world begging for more change
Grampa’s old train stories sent them off on rail and air.

CHORUS 2:
Always face the wind, that’s what my Grampa taught us
The hobo genes burn in your blood so the road will always call.

Grampa didn’t live to hold the newest generation,
A crop of young explorers with the travel bug running strong.
How he would have laughed to see all of their toy trains
How he would have loved to sing them the songs of his hobo youth.

Grampa knew adventure could cure any ill
Grampa’s quest for justice taught me to carry on.
When Grampa’s time to leave arrived he fought like a Russian bear
That wind of his had blown me round the world, so….I wasn’t there. CHORUS 2

Grampa’s ashes spread and blew all across the sea
His beloved wind now carried him round the world, back to me. CHORUS 2

credits

from Days of Honey, Days of Onions, released April 1, 2021
Joanie Calem guitar and vocals

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Joanie Calem Columbus, Ohio

Joanie Calem is a folk musician, singer/song-writer, storyteller and inclusion advocate for audiences of all ages. Joanie writes songs and sings about life's different twists and turns, angles and perspectives, telling stories through her songs of the ups and downs of reality. She performs regularly at festivals, retirement homes, shelters, libraries and schools throughout the US and abroad. ... more

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