Saddle Tramp
The Charlie Daniels' Band Lyrics

Well you pass around the pipe and you all get high
You and your friends smoke and get high without any concern for the consequences.

Never even stop and wonder why
You don't bother to question why you're getting high or what the consequences are.

Maybe it's because you wanna die
Perhaps, you're getting high because you don't value your life.

Maybe it's just he the way things have to be
It could be that you believe that getting high is just a part of life.

You stay up late and drink too damn much whiskey
You often spend late nights drinking and go overboard with whiskey.

You know that sort of thing is kind of risky
You're aware that drinking too much whiskey can be hazardous to your health.

Maybe it's just because you like to feel frisky
Perhaps, you enjoy the feeling of being wild and carefree while drinking whiskey.

Maybe it's just because you like to feel free
It might be that drinking and staying up late make you feel unfettered.

Saddle tramp
You are a wanderer who travels from place to place.

How many people watch you ridin' by
People often observe you as you travel from place to place.

Like a thunder cloud that floats
You remind people of a menacing storm cloud that looms overhead.

Across the Arizona sky
This comparison is made specifically to the sky in the state of Arizona.

And wonder if they're looking
People who observe you wonder if they should feel envy or pity towards you.

At a mighty happy man
People wonder if you're content with your transient lifestyle.

Or just a lonely breeze that drifts
They also wonder if you're really happy or just as aimless as a breeze.

Across the endless desert sand
This again refers to Arizona and the vast, unending desert there.

Well it's gettin' kinda cold in Readosa
As winter draws near, you're not sure where you'll be spending it.

Abilene ain't gettin' any closer
You're not making much progress in terms of arriving at your destination.

One more drink, one more hand of poker
You're not too worried about not moving as you just end up drinking and playing cards.

'Cause a fool and his money's
This is a proverb which emphasizes how foolish people end up squandering their funds.

Gonna have to part
Your carefree and restless lifestyle might lead you to lose your money recklessly.

You're too proud to ever show your sorrow
You always avoid appearing vulnerable in front of other people.

You don't steal and you won't beg or borrow
Despite your restless and transient lifestyle, you have strong principles and won't resort to stealing or begging.

You may be here today but you're gone tomorrow
No one knows how long you'll stay in one place before moving on to the next.

There ain't no strings on your boot heels
You have no ties or attachments to any place in particular.

Or your heart
You have no emotional connections or loyalties that bind you in any one place.

How many people watch you ride away
People observe you when you're leaving a place.

Wonder why you never promise
They wonder why you never give any assurances about returning.

To come back some day
They speculate if you'd ever come back to the same place to settle down.

Maybe thinking you were holding
They assume you intend to travel more and see more.

All the pieces in your hand
They speculate that you have a plan or purpose in life that involves seeing the world.

Or are they slippin' through your fingers
They're unsure whether the things you want and the places you want to see will ever be truly within reach.

Like the endless desert sand
They compare your priorities to the vast and unforgiving desert, suggesting that your greatest goals may be elusive.