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, I 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 changes 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 k**ed 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 know 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