Well, big John Henry Rucker
He was a greasy motor trucker
And he drove them big ol' diesels to L.A.
Drivin' outta Mobile
His darlin' wife, Camille
She would kiss him in his driveway
And she'd say
She'd say:
(Camille) Don't go to sleep on the road, baby
(I won't)
Don't go to sleep on the road
(Lord, protect me)
Take what it takes (uh huh) to keep you awake
(I will)
But don't go to sleep on the road.
Then Camille started singin' country music for a friend
Well you know a girl can't stay too long alone.
First for friends
And then in bars
Then she soon became a star
And sometimes he'd hear her record
And he'd groan...
Singin':
(Camille) Don't go to sleep on the road, baby
(Shel) (Tears in his eyes)
Don't go to sleep on the road
Take what it takes (uh huh) to keep you awake
(Shel) (I will)
But don't go to sleep on the road.
Yes... and her records started movin' up the charts
And became number one
And she got. she got entertainer of the year
And she got her hair done
And got a boob job
And got her an affair with the bass player.
And he got hemorrhoids.
He was drivin' hell for leather
Through the California weather
When that California sky began to rain
And that hill was wet and steep
Oh, he shore could use some sleep
But his darlin's words kept ringin' through his brain.
(Camille singing in the background while Shel sings:)
That eastbound rig was hummin'
Lord, he never seen it comin'
And he woke up starin' at the sky
In the wreck and in the rain
With the radio still playin'
And the last words that he heard before he died
Was Camille
Still singin':
(Camille) Don't go to sleep on the road, baby
(Shel) (What a way to die)
(Camille) Don't go to sleep on the road
(Camille and Shel) Take what it takes to keep you awake
Oh, but don't go to sleep on the road.
And he went to sleep on the rooooooad.