Well, it's all up from Florida at the start of the spring The trucks and the trailers will be winding Like a bullet we'll shoot for the carnival route We're following them dusty old fairgrounds a-calling From the Michigan mud past the Wisconsin sun 'Cross that Minnesota border, keep 'em scrambling Through the clear county lakes and the lumberjack lands We're following them dusty old fairgrounds a-calling Hit Fargo on the jump and down to Aberdeen 'Cross them old Black Hills, keep 'em rolling Through the cow country towns and the sands of old Montana We're following them fairgrounds a-calling As the white line on the highway sails under your wheels I've gazed from the trailer window laughing Oh, our clothes they was torn but the colors they was bright Following them dusty old fairgrounds a-calling It's a-many a friend that follows the bend The jugglers, the hustlers, the gamblers Well, I've spent my time with the fortune-telling kind Following them fairgrounds a-calling Oh, it's pound down the rails and it's tie down the tents Get that canvas flag a-flying Well, let the caterpillars spin, let the Ferris wheel wind Following them fairgrounds a-calling Well, it's roll into town straight to the fairgrounds Just behind the posters that are hanging And it's fill up every space with a different kind of face Following them fairgrounds a-calling Get the dancing girls in front, get the gambling show behind Hear that old music box a-banging Hear them kids, faces, smiles, up and down the midway aisles We're following them fairgrounds a-calling It's a-drag it on down by the deadline in the town Hit the old highway by the morning And it's ride yourself blind for the next town on time Following them fairgrounds a-calling As the harmonicas whined in the lonesome nighttime Drinking red wine as we're rolling Many a turnin' I turn, many a lesson I learn From following them fairgrounds a-calling And it's roll back down to St. Petersburg Tie down the trailers and camp 'em And the money that we made will pay for the space From following them dusty old fairgrounds a-calling