Chattanooga City Limit Sign

I was thumbin' a ride one Saturday mornin'

Outta Nashville totin' my sack

I lent my car to a gal that lived in Chattanooga

And she hadn't never brought it back

She was drinkin' pretty heavy when I let her have it

I hope she knows it was only a loan

Ain't no tellin' what I might have told her back at the time

But that ole car was also my home

About five miles out I was gettin' kinda tired

Sweatin' hard and feelin' kinda weak

I woke up with no cigarettes and nothin' to drink

And I hadn't had a bite to eat

My nerves was so quick I couldn't tell where I was shakin'

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 headin' down to Chattanooga

They said hop in we're goin' there too

And the way they took off in a cloud of smoke

I still ain't believin' it was true

They had their windows down and I was sittin' in the back

With my tongue still hung in my throat

He was hittin' just about a hundred and ten

And he said man what you think of this boat

Well there was two semi's a strugglin' up ahead

One tryin' to pass the other

They had the whole road blocked so he passed 'em on the right

And let me tell you somethin' brother

I was so nervous that my teeth was clickin'

There wasn't no way my head could think

Then the one that was sittin' on the passanger side

Turned and said hey man you want somethin' to drink

I just shook my head cause I couldn't talk

He said okay and then he said cheers

Them fools was drinkin' whiskey and wine

And chasin' it down with beer

Well I started sweatin' 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 rumblin' sound

And then I saw a sign that said fallin' rock

And right there I was floorboard bound

I was rollin' and squirmin' on the ol' floorboard

Too weak to sit or stand

And then the driver said we're doin' 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 blowin' all over my face

And dandruff blowed in both eyes

He never did drive on the right or left

He just kept on ridin' 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

Feelin' sick and lookin' mighty pale

I don't remember anything much after that

But next mornin' 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 grinnin' and turnin' 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 stoppin' the traffic while I was huggin' and kissin'

The Chattanooga city limit sign