Mary took to runnin' with a traveling man
 
 Left her momma crying with her head in her hands
 
 Such a sad case, so broken hearted
 
 She say, momma, I gotta go gotta get outta here
 
 Gotta get outta 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 goes on forever
 
  
  Lord, she never woulda 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 chances
 
 She say, daugher, 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 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
  
 
 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 felt 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, that ol' highway rolls on forever