[John in red; Nick in green; Together in blue]

Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin'
Comin' down the line
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin'
She comin' down the line

Judy got a gun
She was livin' on the run
And there she goes
Oh, now she's downtown out of time
And Judy's found a man
He was the leader of a band
And he took the roads
Buddy better roll on down the line

Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin'
Comin' down the line
Oh, buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin'
She comin' down the line

One more time around
And it's time to leave this town
Go to Mexico
You know it's hanging right behind
One more man to trash
Just one more check to cash
That's all you know
Buddy better get on down the line

Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin'
Comin' down the line
Oh, buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Oh, buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin'
She comin' down the line

Oh, you never had a plan
Oh, it fell right in your hand
Then it turned to stone, oh
Playin' down the silver line
Now all the money's gone
And the man who wrote the song
Said "Pack and go"
Buddy better roll on down the line

Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin'
Comin' down the line
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin'
She comin' down the line

Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin'
Comin' down the line
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Oh, buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin'
Comin' down the line

---

WEBMISTRESS speculates:

This song is pretty catchy although the lyrics are hard to understand (and I'm not referring to comprehending deeper meaning - I mean it's hard to understand what they're singing!) But who cares about that? It's got a good tune, and, as Lindsey would say, that's enough for me.

 

PAUL speculates:

Buddy Won't You Roll Down the Line?" is a traditional song about the Coal Creek Rebellion of 1891:

Way back, yonder in Tennesee, they leased the convicts out.
They worked them in the coal mines against Free Labor South [or possibly "free labor stout"].

Free Labor rebelled against it; to win it took some time.
But while the lease was in effect, they made 'em rise and shine.

chorus: Oh, Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder come my darlin', comin' down the line.

Every Monday morning, they've got 'em out on time.
March them down to Lone Rock, said to look into that mine.
March you down to Lone Rock, said to look into that hole.
Very last word the captain say--"You'd better get your pole."

chorus:

The beans they are half done, the bread is not so well.
The meat is a-burnt up and the coffee's black as heck.
But when you get your task done you're glad to come through at all.
For anything you can get to eat--it taste good, done or raw.

chorus:

The bank boss is a hard man, a man you all know well.
And if you don't get your task done, he's gonna give you hallelujah!
Carry you to the stockade, and it's on the floor you'll fall.
Very next time they call on you, you'll bet you'll have your coal!

chorus:

The strange chorus ("Buddy won't you roll down the line," etc.) may come from songs sung by black convict laborers in Tennessee (as opposed to songs about them, like this one).

I don't know anything about the other lyrics in the Stewart and Reynolds version ("Judy got a gun," etc.).