Lord, Mary took to runnin' 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, I gotta get out of here
I gotta get out of town, I'm tired of hangin' around
I gotta roll on between the ditches'

It's just an ordinary story 'bout the way things goes
Round and around, nobody knows
But the highway goes on forever
That old highway rolls on forever

Lord, she never would've 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 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 where 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

And now 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'

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
There ain't no way to stop the water