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 'bout the way things go 

'Round and around nobody knows but the highway 

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