In a heavy rain, standin' off an old county road
'Side a high rollin' river so swift
There was a hitchhikin' stranger
Quite pale from the cold
On a cane, tryin' to thumb down a lift
Well, I pulled up beside him
And let my window on down
To the rain and the bone-chillin' wind
Said "You look awful worn in this late-winter storm
Which way are you headed, my friend?"
"Right up to the spotlight
Drinkin' all that Coke and gin
And I'll be suit-wearin' man
With gold in my hand
If today doesn't do me in"
Behind a gas station counter
Movin' crates full of things
That looked far too heavy for her
There stood a girl with a frown
Said, "Let me just set these down
And I'll be right with you, sir"
I said, "No hurry here
Take all the time that you want"
She said, "A little time, and you just wait and see
Oh, I'll be without a care when I finally get there"
I said, "Miss, tell me where might that be"
"Right up to the spotlight
Drinkin' all that Coke and gin
And I'll be a dress-wearin' girl
With the heels and the pearls
If today doesn't do me in
If today doesn't do me in"
Well, I got a head-full this mornin'
Cuttin' out through the fog
You know, I can't help but wonder what's left
From every road that dead-ends
To those old bitter men
Passin' time on the old courthouse steps
And there's a feelin' you get
Not far from despair
That sometimes sets in on your mind
But if it's all that you've got
You still set the clock
And get up with a reason to climb
Right up to the spotlight
Drinkin' all that coke and gin
And I'll leave these shadows behind
For a new peace of mind
If today doesn't do me in
If today doesn't do me in
