The Biggest Thing That Man Has Ever Done

Woody Guthrie

I’m just a lonesome traveler, the great historical bum
Highly educated from history I have come
I built the Rock of Ages, ’twas in the Year of One
And that’s about the biggest thing that man had ever done

I worked in the Garden of Eden, that was the year of two
Joined the apple pickers union, always paid my due
I’m the man that signed the contract to raise the rising sun
And that’s about the biggest thing that man had ever done

I was straw boss on the Pyramids, the Tower of Babel, too
I opened up the ocean let the migrant children through
I fought a million battles and I never lost a one
That’s about the biggest thing that man has ever done

I beat the daring Roman, I beat the daring Turk
Defeated Nero’s army with thirty minutes work
I fought the greatest leaders and licked them everyone
That was about the biggest thing that man has ever done

I was in the Revolution when we set the country free
It was me and a couple of Indians that dumped the Boston tea
We won the battle at Valley Forge, the battle of Bully Run
And that’s about the biggest thing that man has ever done

There’s a man across the ocean and I guess you knew him well
His name is Adolf Hitler, and damn his soul to hell
We kicked him in the panzers and put him on the run
That will be the biggest thing that man has ever done

There’s mines and mills and factories that run for Uncle Sam
Produce and furs the soldier boys that fight for this great land
Our job it is a tough one, it’ll take us everyone
But this will be the biggest thing that man has ever done

There’s warehouse guys and teamsters and guys that skin the cats
Guys that run the steel mills, the furnace and the blast
We’ll stop the Axis rattlesnakes and thieves of old Nippon
That will be the biggest thing that man has ever done

Hell, I better quit my talking, ’cause I told you all I know
Please remember, partner, wherever you may go
The world is diggin’ Hitler’s grave, and when the job is done
That will be the biggest thing that man has ever done, yeah
That will be the biggest thing that man has ever done

Also known as The Great Historical Bum.