B  
Mary took to runnin? with a travelin? man 
 
Left her momma crying with her head in her hands 
       E                  B 
Such a sad case so broken hearted 
B 
She said momma I got to go, I gotta get out of here 
 
I gotta get out of town 
 
I'm tired of hanging around 
        E                   B 
I gotta roll on between the ditches 
 
 
It's just an ordinary story bout the way things go 
Round and round, nobody knows 
But the highway goes on forever 
That old highway rolls on forever 
Lord she never would have 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 said daughter let me tell you ?bout the traveling kind 
Everywhere he's going such a very short time 
He'll be long gone before you know it 
He'll be long gone before you know it 

         G#m                           F# 
She said never have I known it when it felt so good 
E                           B 
Never have I knew it when I knew I could 
G#m                          F# 
Never have I done it when it looked so right 
E 
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 a Cajun when he really got mad 
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 
 
 
Repeat Chorus twice