Song information On this page you can find the lyrics of the song Turnpike Tom, artist - Steve Goodman. Date of issue: 14.09.1994
Song language: English
Turnpike Tom |
| First time I met old Turnpike Tom |
| Sittin' in a diner in Bloomington |
| He said «Are you going my way?» |
| He had a sleeping bag and his hat was torn |
| And both his thumbs were two feet long |
| From years of hitchin' on the hi-way |
| He said «Mister, won’t you give me a ride |
| I’m a wanted man lookin' for a place to hide» |
| Oh, we finished the coffee and we got in the car |
| We drove off and hadn’t gone far |
| When Tom began to tell me his sad story… |
| He said «Long around 1942 |
| Buddy, I robbed a bank in Kalamazoo |
| Just to get enough money to marry my true darlin' |
| But she died when she heard what I had done |
| And ever since I’ve been on the run |
| Standing on the hi-ways a callin' |
| A callin' mister won’t you give me a ride |
| I’m a wanted man lookin' for a place to hide» |
| Said «Now I’m gettin' old and ready to die |
| Too tired to run and too sick to try |
| And soon I’ll be hitchin' upstairs in the skyway…» |
| Oh, play that again… |
| He said «I can’t pay you for the ride |
| Just once before I die |
| I’d like to do somebody a favor» |
| And out of his pocket came a rusty old key |
| Along with a map and he give 'em to me |
| And said «Here's an end to all your labor» |
| «Way down in Greensboro, Tennessee |
| In the back of Rusty’s Roadside Cabaret |
| There’s 20,000 in unmarked green |
| The money I stole that’s in the machine |
| That hangs on the wall in Rusty’s Roadside men’s room» |
| So, three nights later at Rusty’s door |
| I had a beer and then I had one more |
| Then I headed for the treasure |
| Just like old Turnpike Tom had said |
| The machine was under a sign which read |
| Sanitary 3-for-a-quarter |
| So I took out the key and I broke the lock |
| There to my bewilderment and shock |
| I found a sign which read «You've just been had |
| In a sanitary way by Turnpike Tom |
| The outlaw with the fastest sense of humor» |
| And if you meet someone with a troubled mind |
| Well, just give him the key and feed him the line |
| And tell him his days will soon be better |
| Yes, and mister, you’ve been taken for a ride |
| There ain’t nothin' but fools gold here inside |
| Oh, the real gold, that’s inside us all |
| Remember that you only fall for |
| Lies and stories when you really want to |