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      The corn was dry and the weeds were high when Daddy took to drinking   Him and Lucy Walker, they took up and ran 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 neighbors started talkin'   But I was much too young to understand the things they said   The thing that mattered most of all was Mama's chicken dumplings   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 then destitution came upon our family   Not one neighbor volunteered to give a helping hand   So let them gossip all they want, she loved us and she raised us   The truth is standing here, the full grown man      Last summer Mama passed away and left the ones who loved her   Each and every one is more than grateful for their birth   Each Sunday she receives the fresh bouquet of fourteen roses   And a card that reads, 'The greatest Mom 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      Yeah, I'm the son of Hickory Holler's tramp