The Wanderer (Live, Early Set)
Mid-State Fairgrounds
Paso Robles, California
1993-08-03
Sung by Johnny Cash with David Roe on bass, John Carter, guitar
The other new song I’d like to do for you is a brand new record. I’m singing a song as a guest on an album that’s doing very well right now. As a matter of fact it’s number 1 all over the world. Lucky me.
We were in Dublin, Ireland and this little 4-piece Irish rock group asked me to sing this song that this Bono had written for me. And ah, we went in the studio the next day, loved the song, we recorded it and it’s on an album called, Zooropa, by U2.
Story about a wandering prophet called, The Wanderer.
By the way, we didn’t have a chance to rehearse this, we’re doing fair shows everyday, traveling during the daytime, 2 shows at night—we have not had a rehearsal on this song so Dave Roe on bass and I going to do it together, John Carter’s going to play a little rhythm guitar for me.
But ah, you see what happened is when it was released the first week it was, it hit number 1 the first week it was released, so it didn’t give me time to rehearse it before it was heard a little bit.
That ain’t too shabby.
Hey I wish it was my album but I’m glad to be on it.
I went out walking
Down streets paved with gold
Lifted some stones
Saw the skin and bones
Of a city without a soul
I went out walking
Under an atomic sky
Where the ground won't turn
And the rain it burns
Like the tears when I said goodbye
Yeah I left with nothing
But the thought you’d be there too
I went wandering
I went a-drifting
Through the capitals of tin
Where men can't walk
Or freely talk
And sons turn their fathers in
I stopped outside a church house
Where the citizens like to sit
They say they want the kingdom
But they don't want God in it
I went out riding
Down that old eight lane
I passed by a thousand signs
Looking for my own name
Yeah I left with nothing
Nothing but the thought of you
Looking for you
Yeah I went out there
In search of experience
To taste and touch
And feel as much
As a man can
Before he repents
I went out searching
Looking for one good man
A spirit who would not bend and break
Who would sit at his father's right hand
I went out walking
With a bible and a gun
The word of God lay heavy on my heart
I was sure I was the one
Now Jesus, don't you wait up
Jesus, I'll be home soon
I went out for the papers
Told her I'd be back by noon
Yeah I left with nothing
But the thought you'd be there too
I went wandering
Yeah I left with nothing
Nothing but the thought of you
I went wandering
