before the sun went down.
The old CB was blarin' away on channel one- nine,
When there came a little boy's
voice on the radio line.
And he said: "Breaker one-
nine! Is anyone there?
"Come on, truckers an' talk
to Teddy Bear!"
Well, I keyed the mic an' I said: "You got it,
Teddy Bear."
And a little boy's voice came
back on the air.
"'Preciate the break. Who
we got on that end?"
I told him my handle,
and, then he began:
"Now, I'm not supposed to bother
you fellows out there.
"Mom says you're busy and
for me to stay off the air.
"But, you see,
I get lonely and it helps me to talk,
'Cause that's about all I can do. I'm crippled,
and, I can't walk!"
I came back and told him to fire up that mic,
And I'd talk to him,
as long as he liked.
"This was my dad's ra_ dio",
the little boy said,
"But I guess it's mine and Mom's now,
'cause my Daddy's dead!"
"Dad had a wreck about a month ago.
"He was trying to get home
in a blindin' snow.
"Mom has to work now to
make ends meet,
"An' I'm not much help with
my two crippled feet."
"She says not to worry,
that we'll make it all right,
"But, I hear her crying sometimes
late at night.
"You know there's just one thing I want
more than anything else to see.
"Aw, I know you guys are too busy
to bother with me,
"But, you see, my dad used to take
me for rides when he was home.
"I guess that's all over now,
since my Daddy's gone."
Well, Sir, not one break_ er
came on the old CB,
As that little crippled boy
talked with me.
You know, I tried hard to swallow,
but the lump just wouldn't stay down,
As I thought about my own little boy
back in Greenville Town.
"Dad was going to take Mom and
me with him later on this year.
"Why, l remember him saying: 'Someday,
this old truck will be yours, Teddy Bear!'
"An' I know I'll never get to ride
an eighteen- wheeler again.
"But, this old base will keep me in touch
with all my trucker friends.
"Well, Teddy Bear's gonna back out
now and leave you alone,
"'Cause it's about time for
Mom to come home.
"But, you give me a shout when
you're passin' through,
"And I'll sure be happy
to come back to you."
Well, I came back and I said:
"Before you go, ten- ten,
"What's your home- twenty,
little CB friend?"
Well, he gave me his address
and I didn't hesitate,
'Cause this hot load of freight
was just gonna have to wait.
I turned that truck around on a dime,
"An' headed straight for
Jackson Street: 229.
And as I rounded the corner, boy,
I got one heck of a shock:
Eighteen- wheelers were lined
up for three city blocks.
Well, I guess every driver for
miles around
had caught Teddy Bear's call,
And that little crippled boy was having a ball.
For as fast as one driver
would carry him in,
Another would carry him to his
truck and take off again.
Well, you better believe,
I took my turn at ridin' Teddy Bear,
And then I carried him back in and
put him down in his chair.
And buddy if I never live to see
happiness again,
I want you to know I saw it that day,
in the face of that little man.
We took up a collection for
him before his Mama got home,
And each driver said: "Goodbye,"
and then they were all gone.
He shook my hand with a mile- long grin,
An' said: "So long,
trucker. I'll catch you again!"
Well, I hit that Inter_ state with tears in my eyes,
And I turned on the ra_ dio
and I got another surprise.
"Breaker one- nine," came
a voice on the air,
"Just one word of thank_ s
from Mama Teddy Bear.
"We wish each and every one,
a special prayer, just for you,
"'Cause, you just made my little
boy's dream come true.
"I'll sign off now, before I start to cry.
"May God ride with you,
ten- four, and goodbye."
Boxcar Willie 
