Recorded by Johnny Cash



Writer: Bob Drawdy







(Spoken)



[G] I was thumbin' a ride one Saturday mornin'



Out of [C] Nashville totin' my sack



I lent my [D7] car to a gal that lived in Chattanooga



And she hadn't ever brought it back. [G]







She was drinkin' pretty heavy, when I let her have it



Hope she knows it was only a loan



Ain't no tellin' what I might have told her back at the time,



But that old car was also my home.







About five miles out I was gettin' kinda tired



Sweatin' hard and feelin' kinda weak



I woke up with no cigarettes or nothin' to drink



And I hadn't had a bite to eat.







My nerves was so quick I couldn't tell where I was shakin'



Then a set of brakes sang my song



Some fellow stuck his head out a '51 Chevy



And hollered "Hey man, come on."







I tole 'em I was headin' down to Chattanooga



They said hop in, we're goin' there too



And the way they took off in a cloud of smoke



I still ain't believin' it was true.







They had their windows down, and I was sittin' in the back



With my tongue still hung in my throat



He was hittin' just about a hundred and ten



And he said, "Man, what you think of this boat?"







Well, there was two semi's a-strugglin' up ahead



One tryin' to pass the other



They had the whole road blocked so he passed 'em on the right



And let me tell you somethin' brother.







I was so nervous my that teeth was clickin'



There wasn't no way my head could think



Then the one that was sittin' on the passenger side



Turned and said, "Hey man, you want somethin' to drink?"







I just shook my head 'cause I couldn't talk



He said OK and then he said cheers



Them fools was drinkin' whiskey and wine



And chasin' it down with beer.







Well, I started sweatin' that old sticky sweat



And I know I was white as a sheet



Then one turned the radio on wide open



And said, "Hey man, check that beat."







By the time we reached the top of Monteagle



I thought I heard a rumblin' sound



And then I saw a sign that said 'FALLIN' ROCK'



And right there I was floorboard bound.







I was rollin' and squirmin' on the old floorboard



Too weak to sit or stand



And then the driver said "We're doin' a hundred and twenty



Look here man, no hands!"







I got up enough nerve to raise up and look



By now there couldn't be no surprise,



But his hair was blowin' all over my face



And dandruff blowed in both eyes.







He never did drive on the right or left



He just kept on ridin' that line



I rubbed my eyes and saw the prettiest thing



The Chattanooga City Limit Sign.







He slowed down and I said, "Mister please!



I'd like to get off right here"



He said, "Aw, ride on into town with us



We'e gonna go down n' pick up some more beer."







I said please once more and he stopped the car



And then he handed me my sack



Said they'd look for me on the road later on



(In) Case I wanted to catch a ride back.







I got out and sat down by the side of the road



Feelin' sick and lookin' mighty pale



I don't remember anything much after that



But next mornin', I woke up in jail.







I didn't know anybody in my cell,



And didn't wanta ask why I was there



But they all kept grinnin' and turnin' their heads



And it was more than my head could bear.







[G] So I called the jailer and asked him to tell me



Why I was [C] there, if he'd be so kind



He said, [S] [D] [P]



"For stoppin' traffic, while I was huggin' and kissin'



The Chattanooga City Limit Sign." [G]