Well I'm a lowdown truck driver 

Eighteen wheels and an easy rider 

Lord have mercy -

Lord have mercy on my weary soul 

Well I'm a burnin' down this highway baby 

And I'm pullin' on a heavy load



You know those high winds, those high grades 

I'm pullin' freight, and I'm gettin' paid 

Lord, them chicken coops ain't open 

and I'm in high gear, hammer down in the hammer lane 

I'm gonna blow right past those smokies 

I got friends on the inside pullin' strings



I've been to Detroit, L.A., New York, Mississipp-i-a 

Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, East Texas and Viet Nam 

Lord have mercy -

Lord have mercy on my weary soul 

Well I'm a burnin' down this highway baby 

and I'm pullin' on a heavy load



I've taken little white pills 

I'm seein' white lines 

You know that log book, she's way behind 

Well this 18-wheeler's  runnin' 

just like 18 tons of fallin' lead 

Well I can see the lights of home baby 

'cause Austin's just 20 more miles ahead



I've been to Detroit, L.A., New York, Mississipp-i-a 

Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, East Texas and Vietnam 

Lord have mercy -

Lord have mercy on my weary soul 

Well I'm a gearin' on down boys 

'Cause I can finally see the lights of home