Lyrics The Legend - Jerry Reed, Bill Justis

The Legend

You heard about the legend of Jesse James
And John Henry just to mention some names
Well there’s a truck driving legend in the south today
A man called Bandit from Atlanta, GA
Every gearjammer knows his name
They swear he got icewater runnin' in his veins
A foot like lead, and nerves like steel
He’s gonna go to glory ridin' 18 wheels
He left Atlanta back in '63
Haulin' him a load up to Tennessee
He hit Monteagle in the driving rain
So hard he couldn’t even see the passing lane
Well he started downgrade when he lost a gear
He hit them brakes;
found he had no air
The Monteagle grade is steep and long
And everybody that seen it thought the Bandit was gone
Well his truck jack-knifed;
turned completely 'round
He was coming down backwards 'bout the speed of sound
A lot of folks seen him and they all say
He had his head out the window yelling «Clear the way!»
Well he got to the bottom safe and sound
Everybody asked Bandit how he made it down
He said folks when the truck picked up too much speed
I just run along beside it and drug my feet
You heard the legend of Jesse James
And John Henry just to mention some names
Well there’s a truck driving legend in the south today
A man called Bandit from Atlanta, GA
Every gearjammer knows his name
They swear he’s got icewater runnin' in his veins
A foot like lead, and nerves like steel
He’s goin' up to glory ridin' 18 wheels