US Rte 49

Put me on a train down to New Orleans
Put me on a boat sailin' the Hudson streams
Fly me to California where the weather’s fine
Leave me facin' Waco on the Texas line
On the Texas line, woman if you knew my mind
Leave my body anywhere but US Route 49
I heard the Savior, he come in tight
Lookin' for a hot meal on a Saturday night
They say he got a cough that sounds like mine
Won’t give way to whiskey and lime
He’s been askin' for me
Says he’s a friend of mine
Tell him to wait for me out on US Route 49
Woke up this mornin', blanket over me
Nurse say I got a fever of a hundred and three
Sweatin' all night, pale as a moon
Moanin' for a woman called Rebecca June
Old boy, you just might be at the end of your line
Let’s set this car on fire and roll me out on US Route 49
Down in Opelika, Texas, they threw a bash for me
Roasted a hog and gave me the city key
Put me up in a house
After the show, the mayor’s wife and his daughter
Came in the back door
We made New Orleans by dawn, Vicksburg that night
Them girls did alright by me, but I had to leave ‘em
Out on Route 49
Hey, Mr. P, I’m ready to go
I got blues and pallets and a rodeo
Talkin' ‘bout a woman and a state of affairs
I got a driver and a nurse if things get worse
He said, «Come on up to New York, son
I’ll give ya two bills a side.»
I’ll be there, by George, if I can get off US Route 49