Well Mary took to runnin' with the travellin' man
She left her mama cryin' with her head in her hands
It's a sad case, so broken-hearted
She said "Mama, got to go, got to get outta here
I gotta get out of town, I'm tired of hangin' around
I gotta roll on between the ditches"

This is an ordinary story about the way things go
Around and around, nobody knows
But the highway rolls on forever
Oh that old highway rolls on forever

Oh well she never would have done it if she hadn't got drunk
If she hadn't started runnin' with the travellin' man
Oh if she hadn't started takin' those crazy chances
Well darlin' let me tell ya 'bout the travellin' kind
It's everywhere he's been in such a very short time
He'll be long gone before you know it
Oh he'll be long gone before you know it

But never have I known it when it felt so good
Never have I felt it like I knew I should
Never have I known it when it felt so right
I'm leavin' Louisiana in the broad daylight

Well down in the swamp land where anything goes
It's alligator bait and the bars don't close
It's a real thing down in Louisiana
Did you ever see a cajun when he really got mad
When he really got trouble like a daughter goin' bad
It gets real hot, oh down in Louisiana
Oh well the stranger better move it or he's gonna get killed
He gonna have to get it or a shotgun will
There ain't no time for no lengthy speeches
Oh oh no there ain't no time for no lengthy speeches

Oh but never have I known it when it felt so good
Never have I felt it like I knew I should
Never have I known it when it felt so right
Leavin' Louisiana in the broad daylight

This is an ordinary story about the way things go
Around and 'round, nobody knows
Ah but the highway rolls on forever
Yeah there ain't no way you're gonna stop that water