Smoky Mountain Taxi

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Well, I caught a taxi in the old Smoky Mountains,
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I had to get to the airport, before ten o'clock
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Had to check out of my funky motel room
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And the nearest bus station was a ten mile walk


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Well, the taxi cab pulled up and the driver stepped out
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She wore a pink shirt with black slacks and some cheap perfume
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There were holes in her smile and she talked kinda raspy
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And she was shaped like the sister of "Earthquake McGoon"


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Well the sunrise was hazy and my suitcase was heavy
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And she lit up a smoke while my shoulder bags sagged
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She said "I'll take you as far as the Hickory Airport
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But I'm ain’t gettin' paid to carry your bags"


Chorus:
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I took a two hour taxi through North Carolina,
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I heard more bluegrass music, than I wanted to hear
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And the big lady driver, she had a tattoo of Jesus
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Said "let the lord bless you and keep you my dear"
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Said "let the lord bless you and keep you my dear"


The cab smelled like menthols and the floorboards were dirty
She said "I hope that my daughter doesn't pick up my habits
she's just nine years old, and she's way to young yet"


Well I looked out my window at the old Smoky Mountains
while she sang high harmonies with Charlie Monroe
And the air smelled like hickory mixed in with the menthol
And both sides of the highway were covered with snow


She said "Most of my family lives in a trailer”
But my husband hauls diesel so we're not on relief"
And I pictured him somewhere of some lonely truckstop
He was hittin’ on a waitress with a good set of teeth


Chorus:
         C        D            D         G
I took a two hour taxi through North Carolina,
        C              G             D
I heard more bluegrass music, than I wanted to hear
        C        G                 D         Em
And the big lady driver, she had a tattoo of Jesus
      C            G             D           Em
Said "let the lord bless you and keep you my dear"
      C            G             D           G
Said "let the lord bless you and keep you my dear"


Well I reached for my billfold as we pulled in the airport
She blew me a kiss while she counted the cost
And when she pulled away there were mandolins playing
With the smoke from the menthols and the tail-pipe exhaust