This is the way that it was.
Just as far back as I can remember,
I was always hanging around a
getting grease on my hands and feet,
and watching my dad and brothers
tear down an old truck or Model T,
picking up a wore out fan belt
or some other kind of souvenirs.
Only one thing on my mind,
man, I was dying to dig into them gears.
to get my driver's license and permit,
went into debt to get my first rig.
Skipped town several hundred
Headed down the open highway,
eating that concrete coming my way.
At long last I was jammin' gears
I got to know all the spots
I courted the waitresses and the cashiers
I had a line that wouldn't quit
I was king of the highway
A self -admitted heartbreaker on wheels
They treated me to the coffee
And I treated them to the beers
Them gals couldn't figure out
What went on inside my head
How could they when you and I know
There ain't nothin' in this old
Finally set my sights on a
Every time I pulled away from her place
I had to face a whole parcel of her tears
hon, if you don't like my leavin'
Then you just pack your little old bag
Ain't nobody gonna stop you
Watch old daddy make her swing
And for some pretty music,
just listen to the hummin' of my gears.
Well, I ditched her down in Brownsville.
would bring me back in a week or two.
This time I mean to tell you
I was really pushing them gears.
This looked like the real thing
so I popped the question quick.
whenever old Ann Cupid appears.
and rented a place up the road.
my leaving near as much as I did.
I just made sure that none of my runs
cause that and down there could surely
recognize the sound of my gears.
Well, you know that old saying,
that bad nickel always reappears.
Next night when I got home,
sitting across from my wife.
the other not saying nothing.
she had said plenty already.
What with all the lies she had piled
She just sat there silent
like her face all covered with smears.
I couldn't say nothing either
something had already started spinning.
They was roaring and they was grinding
and a sandstorm at the same time.
was blasting my head off.
and the motor opened up right in my face.
I was diving head first right straight into them whirling,
grinding, spinning, greasy gears.
Just tell them I'm real sorry
Think it'll come out in the papers
before that old warden appears?
If it's worth anything to you,
just give it to my widow.
Just check the truck stops
That'll be her sitting there
And that guy that's buying them,
I'll lay you a million to one.
He ain't nothing but a crazy
To make his fortune eatin' concrete
And jammin' them galding, greasy gears