[Verse 1]
Mary took to running with a traveling man
Left her mama cryin' with her head in her hands
Such a sad case, so broken-hearted
She say, "Mama, gotta go, gotta get outta here
Gotta get outta town, tired of hanging around
I gotta roll on between the ditches"
Just an ordinary story 'bout the way things go
'Round and around, nobody knows
But the highway goes on forever
That old highway rolls on forever

[Verse 2]
Lord, she never would've done it if she hadn't got drunk
If she hadn't started running with a traveling man
If she hadn't started taking those crazy chances
She say, "Daughter, let me tell you 'bout the traveling 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

[Chorus]
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"
[Verse 3]
This is down in the swamp land, 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 get 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

[Chorus]
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"
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"

[Outro]
Just an ordinary story 'bout the way things go
'Round and around, nobody knows
But the highway goes on forever
That old highway rolls on forever