Chattanooga City Limit Sign

(album: The Baron - 1981)

I was thumbing a ride one Saturday morning
Outta Nashville toting my sack
I lent my car to a gal that lived in Chattanooga
And she hadn't never brought it back
She was drinking pretty heavy when I let her have it
I hope she knows it was only a loan
Ain't no telling what I might have told her back at the time
But that ole car was also my home

About five miles out I was getting kinda tired
Sweating hard and feeling kinda weak
I woke up with no cigarettes and nothing to drink
And I hadn't had a bite to eat
My nerves was so quick I couldn't tell where I was shaking
Then a set of brakes sang my song
Some fella stuck his head out a '57 Chevy
And hollered hey man come on

I told 'em I was heading down to Chattanooga
They said hop in we're going there too
And the way they took off in a cloud of smoke
I still ain't believing it was true
They had their windows down and I was sitting in the back
With my tongue still hung in my throat
He was hitting just about a hundred and ten
And he said man what you think of this boat

Well there was two semi's a struggling up ahead
One trying to pass the other
They had the whole road blocked so he passed 'em on the right
And let me tell you something brother
I was so nervous that my teeth was clicking
There wadn't no way my head could think
Then the one that was sitting on the passanger side
Turned and said hey man you want something to drink

I just shook my head cause I couldn't talk
He said okay and then he said cheers
Them fools was drinking whiskey and wine
And chasing it down with beer
Well I started sweating that ol' sticky sweat
And I know I was white as a sheep
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 rumbling sound
And then I saw a sign that said falling rock
And right there I was floorboard bound
I was rolling and squirming on the ol' floorboard
Too weak to sit or stand
And then the driver said we're doing a hundred and twenty
Look here man no hands

I got up enough nerve to raise up and look
And by now there couldn't be no surprise
But his hair was blowing all over my face
And dandruff blowed in both eyes
He never did drive on the right or left
He just kept on riding 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're gonna go down and 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
Feeling sick and looking mighty pale
I don't remember anything much after that
But next morning I woke up in jail
I didn't know anybody in my cell
And didn't wanta ask why was there
But they all kept grinning and turning their heads
And it was more than my head could bear

So I called the jailer and I asked him to tell me
Why I was there if he'd be so kind
He said for stopping the traffic while I was hugging and kissing
The Chattanooga city limit sign