Southbound

My momma died when i was being born, I lost my daddy when i was eight
Some folks say I’m cursed with bad luck, and that I should not trust to fate
But still I learned to roll the dice, went down to Atlantic City
There I rolled em once or twice, and then once or twice too many

Well I’ve been waiting a long long time
For my luck to come around
Now I’m southbound

I went down to Lexington, where I bet on the steeplechase
I met a man who said he’d pay me to run a different kind of race
So I hauled a load down through the gap… everybody knows it’s east to Johnson City
I didn’t know the feds were on my tail, and when it ended it was not pretty

Well I’ve been waiting a long long time
For my luck to come around
Now I’m southbound

I spent two years in a sevier county pen, I thought the bottom i had reached
When i got out I hitched a ride from Pigeon Forge to Cherokee
I won some money playing cards. Thought maybe my luck had turned around
But outside a man he held me up, so I took his gun and I shot him down

Well I’ve been waiting a long long time
For my luck to come around
Now I’m southbound

I stole car and I drove it south, heading for the Georgia Line
I didn’t know these back roads well, but I had a place in mind
I ditched the car at the Tallulah Gorge, they found me standing at the brink
Staring at the water far below… and wondering what my odds might be
The sherif said don’t you do it boy, you know you ain’t no great Wallenda
There ain’t no tightrope across the gap and you gotta know that fall would end ya

But I’ve been waiting a long long time
For my luck to come around....