Traveling Salesman

(album: Tanya Tucker - 1975)

I've been waiting tables in Charley's grill
Since the spring I turned sixteen
It's a small cafe near the railroad station
In downtown Abilene

Folks round here don't say too much
'Cept when's it gonna rain
And the most exciting thing to do
Is watch who gets off the train

One day, last April
A tall blonde stranger got off the 10:05
With his suit and tie and his shiny boots
And a question in his eye

Lord how I was blushing
When he walked in the cafe
Tipped me a dollar for a cup of coffee
And then I heard him say

Whoa, girl
It gets so lonely for a salesman on the road
And this suitcase full of samples gets to be quite a load
I can tell that you're the only girl in town
Who's got some style
Do you know a quiet place
Where a traveling salesman can rest awhile

Next morning when the sun came up
He was lying in my bed
Telling me about the dry goods business
And how he got ahead
From then on I could hardly wait
Till that day came round
The second Thursday of every month
For my salesman came to town

He'd say
Girl, it gets so lonely
For a salesman on the road...

So I bought myself a brand new dress
Just to meet his train today
I had some news about him and me
I was sure would make him stay

But a small dark stranger with a dry goods case
Got off the train instead
What else was a girl to do
When he smiled at me and said

He said, girl
It gets so lonely
For a salesman on the road
Whoa, girl, it gets so lonely
For a salesman on the road