The man I loved ran a salesman route
Selling goods from house to house
Now I knew my mama would never stand
For me stepping out with no traveling man
Mama bought things that he was a´selling
But mama didn´t know and I sure wasn´t telling
That behind her back I was making plans
To meet somewhere with that traveling man
Oh the traveling man was a good bit older
But a girl needs arms to hold her
Mama didn´t know ´cause I didn´t told her
But mama wouldn´t understand
Me stepping out with a traveling man

Mama didn´t allow me a´going courting
And I´d tell lies that I reckon I oughtn´t
Oh but she´d a´give me the back a´ her hand
If she´d a´seen me with that traveling man
So I tell my mama that I reckon I oughta
Go to the spring and fetch us some water
What mama didn´t know is I had a plan
To meet down there with that traveling man

Now I make plans to run away
With that traveling man on a Saturday
Well Saturday´s here and here I stand
And there goes my mama with that traveling man

Oh that traveling man was a two-time lover
He took my love then he took my mother
But I didn´t know ´cause mama didn´t told me and I don´t understand
My mama running off with my traveling man

Mama, you know you oughtn´t a´done that
You just like my daddy
He run off before I ever knowed him
You done run-off with my traveling man
And I really don´t think I ever knowed you either
Oh there goes my mama with my traveling man
And I´m really gonna miss that traveling man
Mm-hm