A fascinating story. This brings back memories of when I worked at a farm Co-op in Wisconsin in the early 1980s. One afternoon an old man [a farmer's hired hand] stopped in to pick up a barrel of oil. As we drove to another building on the property he pulled out a card from his wallet showing me that he was a proud, card carrying member of the Hobos of America. He went on to explain the hierarchy between hobos, tramps and thieves and to never mistake their distinction lest you risk offending them. A hobo will work for their food & lodging, a tramp wants everything given to them and a thief, of course, will simply take what they want. He also spoke of the signs hobos would leave for each other to secretly mark a house for the next hobo who might pass this way. Curiously, he interspersed our conversation with comments to a cat in the back seat that wasn't there.

Loved the piece on Honeyboy on a lot of levels. One, it made me think of my own hitching days back in the 70s. Freedom, in fact, means nothing left to lose. It's liberating and scary, both, to be out on the road. Second, it made me think of one of my favorite reference books (I'm a librarian). We have a Symbols Sourcebook that has the marks hobos would scratch in the dirt or in chalk on a wood fence to indicate things like "kind woman, tell pitiful story" or "good place for a handout," or 'hit the road quick."

I loved hearing about the experiences that helped shape Honeyboy and his music. It was a refreshing interview. Thanks!

Great Stuff! Thanks Brothers!

What a wonderful inerview thank you. Honeyboyd Edwards a legend to be able to to hear him speaking and what he is doing.
Long live the Blues.