Mary took to running with a travelin' man

Left her momma crying with her head in her hands

Such a sad case, so broken hearted

She say, momma, I got to go, gotta get outta here

I gotta get out of town, I'm tired of hanging around

I gotta roll on between the ditches

It's just an ordinary story 'bout the way things go

'Round and around nobody knows but the highway

Goes on forever, that ol' highway rolls on forever.



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

If she hadn't started running with a travelin' man

If she hadn't started taking those crazy chances

She say, daughter, let me tell you 'bout the travelin' kind

Everywhere he's goin' such a very short time

He'll be long gone before you know it

He'll be long gone before you know it.



She say, never have I known it when it felt so good

Never have I knew it when I knew I could

Never have I done it when it looked so right

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 see a Cajun when he really got mad

When he 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.



She say, never have I known it when it felt so good

Never have I knew it when I knew I could

Never have I done it when it looked so right

Leaving Louisiana in the broad daylight

It's just an ordinary story