Ballad of Thunder Road
Mark Collie Lyrics


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Now let me tell a story, I can tell it all
About the mountain boy who ran illegal alcohol
His daddy made the whiskey, the son, he drove the load
And when his engine roared, they called the highway thunder road

Sometimes into Ashville, sometimes Memphis Town
The revenuers, they chased him, but they couldn't run him down
Each time they thought they had him, his engine would explode
He'd go by like they were standing still on thunder road

There was thunder, thunder over thunder road
Thunder was his engine and white lightning was his load
There was moonshine, moonshine to quench the devil's thirst
The law they swore they'd get him, but the devil got him first

On the first of April, 1954
The federal man sent word, he better make his run no more
He said two hundred agents were covering the state
Whichever road he'd try to take, they'd get him sure as fate

'Son', his daddy told him, 'Now make this run your last
Your tank is filled with a hundred proof, you're all tuned up and gassed
Now don't take any chances, if you can't get through
I'd rather have you back again than all that mountain dew?

There was thunder, thunder over thunder road
Thunder was his engine and white lightning was his load
There was moonshine, moonshine to quench the devil's thirst
The law they swore they'd get him, but the devil got him first

Roaring out of Harlan, revving up his mill
He shot the gap at Cumberland and screamed through Maynardville
With G-men on his tail light, roadblocks up ahead
The mountain boy took roads that even angels feared to tread

Blazing right through Knoxville, out on Kingston Pike
Then right outside of Bearden, there they made the fatal strike
He left the road at ninety, that's all there is to say
The devil got the moonshine and the mountain boy that day

There was thunder, thunder over thunder road
Thunder was his engine and white lightning was his load




There was moonshine, moonshine to quench the devil's thirst
The law they swore they'd get him, but the devil got him first

Overall Meaning

"Ballad of Thunder Road" by Mark Collie is a song that tells a story about a "mountain boy" who runs illegal alcohol. The song is set during the prohibition era of the United States when alcohol production, transportation, and distribution were banned. The singer of the song's story is the son of a whiskey maker, who drives the load of the illegal alcohol, while his father brews it. The song speaks about the hero's prowess as a driver and how, despite the attempts of revenuers (police officers), he manages to outrun them every time. The highway on which he drives is named "Thunder Road" because of the thunder his engine makes as he speeds by the officers.


The lyrics of the song depict the mountain boy's final run, following the Federal agents warning him to stop, to avoid being caught. However, his father urges him to make one final run with the truck filled with illegal moonshine, despite the risk. The song describes the boy's breathtaking race through the streets and highways of different cities, with the agents hot on his tail. Throughout the song, the lyrics keep reiterating the "Thunder" and "Moonshine" to symbolize the boy's expertise as a driver, and the forbidden alcohol he carries, which ultimately leads to his downfall.


Overall, the song is a commentary on the prohibition era of the United States, where the laws banning the production and transportation of alcohol led to people resorting to illegal methods to accomplish the same. The song also showcases the thrill and excitement of speed and rebellion that often characterizes the image of drivers of the era that formed American folklore.




Line by Line Meaning

Now let me tell a story, I can tell it all
The singer is about to relate a tale.


About the mountain boy who ran illegal alcohol
The singer of the story is a young man who smuggled moonshine.


His daddy made the whiskey, the son, he drove the load
The singer's father distilled the illegal liquor and the son delivered it.


And when his engine roared, they called the highway thunder road
The sound of the artist's powerful engine earned him the nickname 'Thunder Road'.


Sometimes into Ashville, sometimes Memphis Town
The artist transported moonshine to different cities.


The revenuers, they chased him, but they couldn't run him down
The authorities pursued the singer, but failed to catch him.


Each time they thought they had him, his engine would explode
The singer's engine would literally 'explode' (i.e., surge in power) and enable him to elude the authorities.


He'd go by like they were standing still on thunder road
The artist outpaced the authorities with his fast car.


There was thunder, thunder over thunder road
The artist's car was so loud and powerful that it produced a 'thunder' sound.


Thunder was his engine and white lightning was his load
The artist's engine roared like thunder and he transported white lightning (i.e., high-proof alcohol).


There was moonshine, moonshine to quench the devil's thirst
The singer transported moonshine to satisfy people's illicit desires.


The law they swore they'd get him, but the devil got him first
The authorities promised to catch the artist, but he died before they could.


On the first of April, 1954
The day on which the story takes place.


The federal man sent word, he better make his run no more
The singer was warned by federal agents to stop transporting moonshine.


He said two hundred agents were covering the state
The authorities had a massive search operation in place to catch the singer.


Whichever road he'd try to take, they'd get him sure as fate
The authorities were confident they could catch the artist no matter which route he took.


'Son', his daddy told him, 'Now make this run your last
The artist's father implored him to quit his illegal activity.


Your tank is filled with a hundred proof, you're all tuned up and gassed
The singer's car was fully fueled and ready for a final run.


Now don't take any chances, if you can't get through
The singer was cautioned not to take unnecessary risks.


I'd rather have you back again than all that mountain dew?
The artist's father valued his safety more than the illegal liquor he transported.


Roaring out of Harlan, revving up his mill
The artist left Harlan in a hurry with his engine roaring.


He shot the gap at Cumberland and screamed through Maynardville
The artist drove through Cumberland and Maynardville at high speed.


With G-men on his tail light, roadblocks up ahead
The authorities chased the singer and set up roadblocks.


The mountain boy took roads that even angels feared to tread
The artist took dangerous roads to escape the authorities.


Blazing right through Knoxville, out on Kingston Pike
The singer drove through Knoxville and continued on Kingston Pike.


Then right outside of Bearden, there they made the fatal strike
The authorities caught the singer just outside of Bearden.


He left the road at ninety, that's all there is to say
The singer crashed his car and died.


The devil got the moonshine and the mountain boy that day
The authorities got the illegal alcohol and the artist died.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON RAYE, ROBERT MITCHUM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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