Cash Johnny - CHATTANOGA CITY LIMIT SIGN Lyrics

Recorded by Johnny Cash

Writer: Bob Drawdy



(Spoken)

[G] I was thumbin' a ride one Saturday mornin'

Out of [C] Nashville totin' my sack

I lent my [D7] car to a gal that lived in Chattanooga

And she hadn't ever brought it back. [G]



She was drinkin' pretty heavy, when I let her have it

Hope she knows it was only a loan

Ain't no tellin' what I might have told her back at the time,

But that old car was also my home.



About five miles out I was gettin' kinda tired

Sweatin' hard and feelin' kinda weak

I woke up with no cigarettes or nothin' to drink

And I hadn't had a bite to eat.



My nerves was so quick I couldn't tell where I was shakin'

Then a set of brakes sang my song

Some fellow stuck his head out a '51 Chevy

And hollered "Hey man, come on."



I tole 'em I was headin' down to Chattanooga

They said hop in, we're goin' there too

And the way they took off in a cloud of smoke

I still ain't believin' it was true.



They had their windows down, and I was sittin' in the back

With my tongue still hung in my throat

He was hittin' just about a hundred and ten

And he said, "Man, what you think of this boat?"



Well, there was two semi's a-strugglin' up ahead

One tryin' to pass the other

They had the whole road blocked so he passed 'em on the right

And let me tell you somethin' brother.



I was so nervous my that teeth was clickin'

There wasn't no way my head could think

Then the one that was sittin' on the passenger side

Turned and said, "Hey man, you want somethin' to drink?"



I just shook my head 'cause I couldn't talk

He said OK and then he said cheers

Them fools was drinkin' whiskey and wine

And chasin' it down with beer.



Well, I started sweatin' that old sticky sweat

And I know I was white as a sheet

Then one turned the radio on wide open

And said, "Hey man, check that beat."



By the time we reached the top of Monteagle

I thought I heard a rumblin' sound

And then I saw a sign that said 'FALLIN' ROCK'

And right there I was floorboard bound.



I was rollin' and squirmin' on the old floorboard

Too weak to sit or stand

And then the driver said "We're doin' a hundred and twenty

Look here man, no hands!"



I got up enough nerve to raise up and look

By now there couldn't be no surprise,

But his hair was blowin' all over my face

And dandruff blowed in both eyes.



He never did drive on the right or left

He just kept on ridin' that line

I rubbed my eyes and saw the prettiest thing

The Chattanooga City Limit Sign.



He slowed down and I said, "Mister please!

I'd like to get off right here"

He said, "Aw, ride on into town with us

We'e gonna go down n' pick up some more beer."



I said please once more and he stopped the car

And then he handed me my sack

Said they'd look for me on the road later on

(In) Case I wanted to catch a ride back.



I got out and sat down by the side of the road

Feelin' sick and lookin' mighty pale

I don't remember anything much after that

But next mornin', I woke up in jail.



I didn't know anybody in my cell,

And didn't wanta ask why I was there

But they all kept grinnin' and turnin' their heads

And it was more than my head could bear.



[G] So I called the jailer and asked him to tell me

Why I was [C] there, if he'd be so kind

He said, [S] [D] [P]

"For stoppin' traffic, while I was huggin' and kissin'

The Chattanooga City Limit Sign." [G]