Life gets so lonely when you live down on dusty road
Down where the fields of the corn and the cotton grows
It ain't helpin' none cause papa's in trouble with the law
He's servin' time on a chain gang in Arkansas
We got rich cousins livin' downtow puttin' on a show
They don't claim kin to us folks down on dusty road

There's eight of us kids and the youngest one is four today
Heard mama tell sis another one is on it's way
Lately mama spends a lot of time down at Duffey's bar
Today she came home drivin' a Chevrolet car hum
People say Duffey might as well be a diggin' his hole
For anyday papa might be back on dusty road

Here it is Monday and things have gone from bad to worse
Papa shot a guard and escaped in a prison hearse
Sis has been sneakin' out with no good Jimmy McClain
Papa caught 'em parked last night on lover's lane
Sis cut her wrist and she cried til the Mill whistle blowed
There's an awful lot of talk down here on dusty road

Papa shot Duffey and he nearly killed Jimmy McClain
Sheriff took him back to prison on the morning train
Sis has gone to live with Aunt Bet up in Alabam
I guess it's just as well cause Jimmy ain't a comin' around
It ain't rained in a month and it looks like the corn won't grow
There's an awful lotta talk down here on dusty road
There's an awful lotta talk down here on dusty road