Hauling Freight; No Fences (Honoring Gerald Johannick)

From the Album Living In A Rich Man’s World

Hauling freight, no fences
In those days of small pasture
Wild hay a blowing
Beneath a prairie sky
Cornbread and molasses
Brown sugar and butter
Oatmeal and pancakes
Two feet high

Lord knows I’ve traveled a long, long time
Hauling freight on the dray line

In those days hoboes
Followed the weather
Helped thrash for bread
Working their lives away
My dad loved farming
I hated horses
Bought a Studebaker
Moved into town

Lord knows I’ve traveled a long, long time
Hauling freight on the dray line

Went to Chicago
Saw my first diesel
At the world’s fair
Six miles long
Saw Ma’ Barker
Homer Van Meter
Rob a post office
With Pretty Boy Floyd

Lord knows I’ve traveled a long, long time
Hauling freight on the dray line

Became a trucker
Had a disaster
Hogs went a-flying
Nearly lost my life

Machine guns at Plymouth
While hauling cattle
Into the stock yards
In South St. Paul

Lord knows I’ve traveled a long, long time
Hauling freight on the dray line

My mother she lived
Three plus a hundred
My wife she died
Six years ago
If you want to find me
I’ll be at the gas station
Drinking pop and coffee
With friends of mine

Lord knows I’ve traveled a long, long time
Hauling freight on the dray line

Words & music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 1988; Renewed 2019 / BMI

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