B5  
Mary took to runnin? with a travelin? man 
 
Left her momma crying with her head in her hands 
       E5                  B5 
Such a sad case so broken hearted 
B5 
She said momma I got to go, I gotta get out of here 
 
I gotta get out of town 
 
I'm tired of hanging around 
        E5                   B5 
I gotta roll on between the ditches 
 
It's just an ordinary story bout the way things go 

Round and round, nobody knows 

But the highway goes on forever 

That old highway rolls on forever 

Lord she never would have done it if she hadn't got drunk 

If she hadn't started runnin? with a travelin? man 

If she hadn't started takin? those crazy chances 

She said daughter let me tell you ?bout the traveling kind 

Everywhere he's going such a very short time 

He'll be long gone before you know it 

He'll be long gone before you know it 


         G#5                           F#5 
She said never have I known it when it felt so good 
E5                           B5 
Never have I knew it when I knew I could 
G#5                          F#5 
Never have I done it when it looked so right 
E5 
Leaving Louisiana in the broad daylight  
 
 
This is down in the swampland anything goes 
It's alligator bait and the bars don't close 
It's the real thing down in Louisiana 
Did you ever a Cajun when he really got mad 
Really got trouble like a daughter gone bad 
It gets real hot down in Louisiana 
The stranger better move it or he's gonna get killed 
He's gonna have to get it or a shotgun will 
It ain't no time for lengthy speeches 
There ain't no time for lengthy speeches 
 
 
Repeat Chorus twice