- published: 18 Sep 2008
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Boxcar Willie, born as Lecil Travis Martin (September 1, 1931 – April 12, 1999) was an American country music singer, who sang in the "old-time hobo" music style, complete with dirty face, overalls, and a floppy hat. "Boxcar Willie" was originally a character in a ballad he wrote, but he later adopted it as his own stage name.
Born in Sterratt, Texas, Martin joined the United States Air Force in 1949, and served as a pilot and flight engineer for the B-29 Super Fortress during the Korean War in the early 1950s. In Lincoln, Nebraska, Martin was once sitting at a railroad crossing and a fellow that closely resembled his chief boom operator, Willie Wilson, passed by sitting in a boxcar. He said, "There goes Willie." He pulled over and wrote a song entitled "Boxcar Willie".[citation needed] It eventually stuck and became Martin's nickname .There is no relation to the fictitious character, bearing the same name, as featured in the CJCLS commercial that aired ~1985. In 1962, Martin met his future wife, Lloene, in Boise, Idaho. They would later have four children.
The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home 'tis summer, the darkies are gay, the corn top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom while the birds make music all the day. The young folks roll on the little cabin floor all merry, all happy, and bright. By'n by hard times comes a-knocking at the door, then my old Kentucky home, good night.
Chorus: Weep no more, my lady, oh weep no more today. We will sing on song for the old Kentucky home, for the old Kentucky home far away.
They hunt no more for the 'possum and the coon on meadow, the hill, and the shore. They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon on the bench by that old cabin door. The day goes by like a shadow o'er the heart with sorrow where all was delight. The time has come when the darkies have to part then my old Kentucky home, good night.
Chorus: Weep no more, my lady, oh weep no more today. We will sing on song for the old Kentucky home, for the old Kentucky home far away.