crossroad mary

needed a ride

took me 35 years to get to LA
i took the long way
left for home the very next day
looking for a place to stay

lowdown, motown,
white collar brew
bottle of fix
the wrong tattoo

zero down mortgage,
couldn’t pay my dues,
just wanted my name
on the evening news

hopped a bus
in a southern way,
woke up in ohio
was alone that day

left for cincinnati,
it was cold outside.
first thing that i noticed
was i needed a ride.

then a crossroad mary came up on side
said what do you want, what do you need in life?
i asked for directions & a slice of pie
she told me hop on, then she gave me a ride

she gave me a ride

we hit chicago first,
took a turn for the worst,
should’ve thought ahead,
take the time to rehearse

( there was no reverse )

lost my money instead,
another day in the red,
but things were looking up
when i rolled out of bed

( she gave me a ride )

we hit kentucky next,
i was somewhat vexed,
took a zero-dollar gambit
got my stuff annexed

no more dimes / no time
couldn’t make a nursery rhyme
we got out of dodge
we crossed the state line

and then a crossroad mary came up on side
said what do you want, what do you need in life?
i asked for directions & a slice of pie
she told me hop on, then she gave me a ride

made it to vegas

we made it to texas,
no time for breakfast,
we left for amarillo
nobody could catch us

took a fresh cap / detap
cow manure
mushrooms on top
like a fishing lure

made it to vegas
the very next day
things were looking up
i was on my way

but my luck run out
when she pulled out a gun
took my wallet & my keys
rode off into the sun

crossroad mary

and then a crossroad mary came up on side
said what do you want, what do you need in life?
i asked for directions & a slice of pie
she told me hop on & then she gave me a ride