Many years ago when my daddy died I caught myself a freight train and my mama cried Lookin' back it all looks like a marathon And it started all with an E chord I learned from Uncle John Now John had a lot of gumption and he gave me some And he taught me "Rubber Dolly" and a guitar run A river bank in those days wadn't my love, boo But he shared his kitchen table and his family too Now, right here and now it's thanks to Uncle John To Claudia, Doug, Norman, Joe and Lillian Now John Burke was really not my uncle but we were kin 'Cause he shared his home and family and he took me in Many years ago when my daddy died I caught myself a freight train and my mama cried And looking back it all looks like a marathon And it started all with a blues chord that I learned from my Uncle John "Rubber Dolly", yes "Rubber Dolly"