Monday's Poetry: "The Road Goes on Forever"

 

by Pa Rock

Poetry Appreciator

        (Ballad:  A type of narrative poem that tells a story, usually with a strong emotional appeal.)

This past Saturday was Willie Nelson's birthday, and not just any birthday - it was his 90th!   To call Willie an American music legend, which he clearly is, seems almost trite because over the course of his nearly  a century on earth, Willie Nelson has written and performed songs that will be enjoyed and shared across cultures for generations to come.

A few of the best known songs written by Willie Nelson include the Patsy Cline hit, "Crazy," as well as other standards like "Funny How Time Slips Away," "Hello Walls," and the iconic and personally revealing "On the Road Again."

Today, in honor of Willie's 90th, I have chosen to  highlight a ballad that he performed as a part of the group, The Highwaymen, whose other members included Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson.  The piece, "The Road Goes on Forever," was written by Robert Earl Keen, Jr, is the story of a pair of small town outlaws whose adventures are certainly reminiscent of the wild ride that America's favorite musical "outlaw" has taken across nearly a century of life and music in America.  "The Road Goes on Forever" was the title track of The Highwaymen's final album which was released in 1995.  

Willie is ninety and still on the road.  It goes on forever and the party never ends!

Happy birthday Willie!  Thanks for all of the wonderful music!

The Road Goes on Forever

by Robert Earl Keen, Jr.

Sherry was a waitress at the only joint in town
She had a reputation as a girl who'd been around
Down Main Street after midnight with a brand new pack of cigs
A fresh one hangin' from her lips and a beer between her legs
She'd ride down to the river and meet with all her friends
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

Sonny was a loner he was older than the rest
He was going into the Navy but he couldn't pass the test
So he hung around town he sold a little pot
The law caught wind of Sonny and one day he got caught
But he was back in business when they set him free again
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

Sonny's playin' 8-ball at the joint where Sherry works
When some drunken outta towner put his hand up Sherry's skirt
Sonny took his pool cue laid the drunk out on the floor
Stuffed a dollar in her tip jar and walked on out the door
She's runnin' right behind him reachin' for his hand
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

They jumped into his pickup Sonny jammed her down in gear
Sonny looked at Sherry and said lets get on outta here
The stars were high above them and the moon was in the east
The sun was settin' on them when they reached Miami Beach
They got a hotel by the water and a quart of Bombay gin
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

They soon ran out of money but Sonny knew a man
Who knew some Cuban refugees that delt in contraband
Sonny met the Cubans in a house just off the route
With a briefcase full of money and a pistol in his boot
The cards were on the table when the law came bustin' in
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

The Cubans grabbed the goodies and Sonny grabbed the Jack
He broke a bathroom window and climbed on out the back
Sherry drove the pickup through the alley on the side
Where a lawman tackled Sonny and was reading him his rights
She stepped into the alley with a single shot .410
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

They left the lawman lyin' and they made their getaway
They got back to the motel just before the break of day
Sonny gave her all the money and he blew her a little kiss
If they ask you how this happened say I forced you into this
She watched him as his taillights disappeared around the bend
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

Its Main Street after midnight just like it was before
21 months later at the local grocery store
Sherry buys a paper and a cold 6-pack of beer
The headlines read that Sonny is goin' to the chair
She pulls back onto Main Street in her new Mercedes Benz
The road goes on forever and the party never ends